History of the Corrigan Collection
Dating back to Richard's rural Irish upbringing, the Corrigan Collection has a rich history over many years and countries.
The Corrigan Collection in its current form dates back to 2005, with the successful purchase, refurbishment and grand reopening of Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill, though its origins can be found much further back.
Corrigan's Mayfair opened in 2008, as Chef Corrigan's first restaurant, the Michelin Starred Lindsay House was closed. Many staff from the iconic Soho Townhouse were brought over to Corrigan's, resulting in the new restaurant opening to much acclaim, being awarded London Restaurant of the Year by the Evening Standard and given three AA Rosettes within the first three months. It was also awarded ‘AA London Restaurant of the Year’, and gained one of the highest new entries in the National Restaurant Awards in its first year. Bentley's and Corrigan's continued to go from strength to strength, with Bentley's returning to its previous status as an iconic London institution and Corrigan's continuing to wow.
In 2014, the Corrigan Collection expanded once more to welcome Virginia Park Lodge to the fold. The place where Chef Corrigan married his wife Maria, Virginia Park Lodge always held a special place in Richard's heart, and as with Bentley's he could see its untapped potential in its original form. Over the next ten years, the Lodge undertook a seven-figure refurbishment of the grounds, restoring the country estate to where it always should have been. The farm was rejuvenated into a haven for nature, where almost everything organic, reused and sourced from our local area. It continues to produce top-quality produce, served at the Lodge year-round during weddings and events.
2019 saw Chef Corrigan returning to London, opening Daffodil Mulligan, an Irish restaurant that focuses on its wood-fired grill, serving small inventive plates and fresh cuts from the grill. This cosy venue in Shoreditch quickly became a favourite for Londoner's in the know, famed for its barely changing team of staff. In 2020, the basement bar at Daffodil Mulligan was opened as Gibney's London, a collaboration between Chef Corrigan, the Gibney family of Malahide and John Nugent. A home away from home for all those looking for a quiet Irish pint, Gibney's pours some of London's best Guinness.
2023 saw Richard Corrigan's return to a long-standing partnership with caterers Searcys, to collaborate on the new restaurant at the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery, the Portrait Restaurant.