Alongside the new menu and head bartender much of the team that closed the bar in March 2020 has since moved on, and while the bar’s heart beats again with new blood Di Chiara knows how important it is to recognise and maintain what has made the bar special for generations.
“We have regulars who are bartenders or people from the industry but also couples who have been visiting for 30 or 40 years. Our clientele is very mixed and it’s something that I’m proud of - that we can create a great atmosphere for everyone.
“You should feel as at home in a bar as you would in your living room. Yes, there was a lot of pressure when we reopened and yes, it is the Savoy. The American Bar has an incredible history, but we can’t forget the main thing, this bar is a place where friendship happens, where people go to relax and to have an experience, whether that’s a luxury experience or just having a beer.
“Really it was magical to see our regulars so happy to come back, it showed how much this place means, it was somewhere that we all missed a lot.”
