Serpentine Restaurant, Hyde Park 1980s

The Serpentine Restaurant was a striking modernist structure located in London’s Hyde Park, designed by the architect Patrick Gwynne. Built in the 1960s, it formed part of a broader initiative to introduce high-quality private catering facilities within the Royal Parks. This project also included a sister establishment, the Dell Restaurant, situated nearby overlooking the Dell and the Serpentine Lake.

Gwynne’s vision for the Serpentine Restaurant was centred on creating a structure that functioned both as a welcoming shelter and a scenic outlook. The building was composed of sweeping concrete terraces that offered panoramic views of the adjacent pond, while discreetly incorporating service and kitchen spaces beneath. Its most distinctive feature was a series of glass, pyramid-shaped roof lights that dotted the terrace, flooding the interior with natural light and giving the restaurant a futuristic, open-air aesthetic.

Patrick Gwynne not only designed the building but also created its bespoke furniture and interior fittings, maintaining a coherent and modernist design language throughout. His approach placed significant emphasis on blending form with function—ensuring that elements like the car park were carefully positioned so as not to disrupt views across the park or intrude upon the restaurant’s elegant silhouette.

Over time, the building underwent two extensions, adapting to increasing demand. However, despite its popularity and architectural significance, the original structure was eventually demolished in 1990. The reasons for its demolition included maintenance challenges and changing attitudes toward park catering provision in the late 20th century.

Today, the only surviving element of Gwynne’s contribution to Hyde Park’s architectural landscape is the Dell Restaurant. In recognition of its design and heritage value, the Dell was listed as a Grade II building in 1995—five years after the Serpentine Restaurant was lost.