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A DOZEN key openings to look out for

The pre-Christmas period this year is already looking as if it may be something of a classic for London openings. Here are a dozen of the best to look out for. NB all opening dates are according to the best current information: experience suggests that they are still quite likely to change.

aqua W1 – two restaurants at the top of the former Dickins & Jones department store, with over 250 seats in total. aqua nueva opened at the end of September, with aqua kyoto following the week after.

>> Read our first-week review of aqua nueva and aqua kyoto<<

Polpo W1 – a Venetian restaurant on the former Soho premises of Aperitivo, from ex-Caprice Holdings director Russell Norman.

>> Read our first-week review <<

Hix W1 - on the former Aaya site in Soho, the latest venture from Mark Hix.

>> Read our first-week review <<

Luxe E1 - in Spitalfields Market, a restaurant, specialising in poultry and game, bar and café, from John Torode.

Terroirs WC2 – the new restaurant beneath the already mega-popular Gallic bistro, near Charing Cross.

Pizza East E1 – housed in the Tea Building, adjacent to Shoreditch House, and under the same (Soho House) ownership.

Mennula W1 - an Italian restaurant on the site of Passione on Charlotte Street, with Sicilian chef Santino Busciglio at the helm. (Mid-October)

Kitchen W8 W8 – on the site of the former Abingdon Road, the new informal venture which includes Philip Howard (star chef of the Square W1) among its backers. (Late October)

Roka E14 – second London outpost of Rainer Becker’s Japanese restaurant brand will open in Canary Wharf. (Late October)

Galvin La Chapelle E1 – the new Shoreditch venture from the Galvin brothers. We’ve had a bit of a early peek inside the lofty but warm Victorian hall which houses it: if they get it right this could be spectacular. (Mid-November)

Dean Street Townhouse W1 – another venture from the media-friendly Soho House group; includes a members’ club, natch, but also a dining room open to all. (21 November)

And later...

Pétrus SW1 – At the other end of Kinnerton Street from Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, Gordon Ramsay’s new fine dining restaurant is set to open a little later than once hoped, in early January. A number is already available for preliminary reservations.

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