Highlands Team to Open Whitehall in Sweetiepie Space

The good folks behind Highlands, the Scottish bar in the West Village, and Lower East Side restaurant Mary Queen of Scots, have a new project up their sleeves. Co-owner Brian McGrory tells Eater he'll open a restaurant called Whitehall in the former Sweetiepie space this October. McGrory seems to have a knack for taking bad luck/cursed/shitshow spaces (see P*ong and Allen & Delancey) and turning them into something much more palatable, so it's welcome news.

According to McGrory, Whitehall will trade out the pink walls and the golden oversized birdcage for white subway tile, blackboards, and (golden!) park benches, as the space is modeled after London's public places, including parks and train stations. As for the food, it's "Modern British," described as using "high-quality local ingredients, preparing them in ways which combine traditional British recipes with modern innovations." They'll open all day, starting with breakfast pastries in the morning and merging into a gin-focused cocktail program at night.

The restaurant seats 35 inside with 50 al fresco seats coming next summer. Look out for more info as their October debut approaches.
· All Coverage of Highlands [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Sweetiepie [~ENY~]
[Photo: a typical lunch at Sweetiepie, may it rest in peace]