The Jane is situated within an historic military hospital chapel in Antwerp; the existing architecture magnificent and the history of then interior beautifully visible. ‘Piet Boon Studio was responsible for the interior design and styling of The Jane, since then the collaboration has resulted in the chapel’s unique transformation into a high-end, contemporary restaurant with international allure where experience is key.’
Nick: ‘Managing the kitchen of Oud Sluis was no longer satisfying. I was still young, but wanted to learn in other areas than just the culinary. It wanted to tell Sergio that I was thinking of a new challenge. And I had to do this on time, as Sergio had just opened his second restaurant Pure C in Cadzand. So, there we were, sitting at a table on a Saturday morning, finally a quiet moment in our hectic lives, discussing the future. He listened to my story and asked me to specify my ambitions and why I was thinking of other things. It became clear pretty quickly that Sergio was also ready for a new challenge as soon as Pure C was up and running. Maybe starting a business together would be the right story.’
Sergio: ‘A couple of months later I received a phone call from Job Smeets of Studio Job. He told me about a place in Antwerp, a former chapel that was so beautiful it might just become the most gorgeous restaurant of Belgium. One visit was all it took. It immediately felt as the place where it was all going to happen. The building might be much too big for a restaurant that we wanted to bring up to a level that would suit us. But not doing it was not an option. I only thought: if we are really going ahead with this, we need help from the people closest to us. And that is how it started. Three years we spent brainstorming, working and arguing. With partners, suppliers, artists, other businesses and of course the man who could design it: Piet Boon. The Jane would never have been possible without the confidence of all the people who helped us with the project. Everything in The Jane is the result of a conversation, a discussion, a negotiation. And everything has come about because of the people around us. Our team, our restaurant-manager Robert and all the partners have made it possible for us to realise our dream.’https://www.thejaneantwerp.com/?lang=enMODE
