The Hero's Return is a new pub and dining room within the iconic Battersea Power Station, from the team behind pasta restaurant Bancone, marking the group's first move beyond its beloved Italian concepts. The pub takes over the former No 29 bar space on the banks of the River Thames, right next door to Wright Bros, offering a classic pub feel and an idyllic riverside terrace.
Known for its silk handkerchief pasta dishes, the Bancone restaurant group opened its first site in Covent Garden back in 2018. The group has continued its expansion with sites in Soho, Borough Yards, Kensington and City, with a hotel restaurant to open at the Imperial in Bloomsbury later this year. The Hero's Return marks a new chapter for the group as it ventures into London's pub scene.
At the helm is executive chef Jonathan Woolway, who brings a wealth of experience to the project, having spent 17 years working at St John before more recently serving as chef patron of the highly acclaimed Shed in Swansea. Woolway's menus revolve around exceptional, ingredient-led dishes that showcase the best of Britain. Expect elevated dishes such as grilled mackerel with rainbow chard and horseradish, ox heart with hand-cut chips and peppercorn sauce, and cold roast Gower lamb with celeriac remoulade and pickled walnut.
Inside, The Hero's Return will be centered around an open kitchen, with bar seating and dining spaces, as well as fireplaces that keep that cosy spirit throughout the winter. Come summer, guests can settle in on the 40-cover terrace, taking in idyllic views over the Thames. It's the perfect spot for some after work drinks.