The London restaurant world this week mourned the passing of Russell Norman, creator of Polpo, Spuntino and Trattoria Brutto, who has died suddenly at the age of 57. Born and brought up in London’s northwestern outskirts, Russell was a host of legendary charm host who cut his teeth in the trade as a barman-turned-restaurant manager […]
Russell Norman, formerly of the Polpo group, will open Trattoria Brutto at in Farringson at the site of the former Hix Oyster & Chop House. The restaurant was first revealed in a Marina O’Loughlin piece and was confirmed by Russell soon after. He had this to say on Instagram: “The menu comes from the heart of Italy, […]
Just seven weeks – give or take – after Anthea Stephenson was appointed head chef of Russell Norman’s Polpetto, she has left the restaurant. The departure comes after a big relaunch, with a bold redesign and a new menu. A spokeswoman for the Polpo group said there was no statement available as to what has […]
Theatreland’s stalwart American diner Joe Allen (a survivor of the ’70s) is to move lock, stock and wood panelling this summer. The restaurant and all its fixtures and fittings will take up a new home, just 25 metres down the road, in Burleigh Street, Covent Garden. Retaining the recognisable wood panelling, classic theatre posters and […]
A clutch of London’s most successful restaurant chains are heading up the M40 to open new outlets in Oxford’s Westgate shopping and leisure complex, which reopens after a £440million redevelopment later this year. Polpo (pictured), Russell Norman’s tribute to the Venetian small-plates bacaro, heads the list alongside Sticks & Sushi, Pho, Shoryu ramen, Comptoir Libanais, Pizza […]
Kansas City-style BBQ joint, Bodean’s, has announced that its seventh hog hotspot will open in Covent Garden on 12 April. The new restaurant will offer 50% off food (lunch and dinner) during its soft launch, 12-14 April (inclusive). The discount is only available for direct bookings via coventgarden@bodeansbbq.com. The group has taken over the former […]
Russell Norman’s Venetian-influenced small plates empire, Polpo, expands ever onward as he announces new sites in Harvey Nics London and Leeds. Polpo Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge is due to launch first on 8 February, taking a space on the luxury department store’s fifth floor, which is already home to Scott Hallsworth’s Japanese izakaya Kurobuta. Despite being […]
Dining in Seven Dials continues its upward trajectory, as the people behind long-time Soho favourite Bocca di Lupo follow in Marcus Wareing and Russell Norman’s footsteps to open a restaurant there. Jacob Kenedy and Victor Hugo, of the lauded tapas-style Italian, will launch their second London outpost, Vico, in late-August right next door to Norman’s Ape […]
Chef Tom Oldroyd (former chef director of Polpo group) steps out from Russell Norman’s shadow and strikes out on his own with his first solo venture in Islington. Oldroyd has just opened on Upper Street. The 40-cover neighbourhood restaurant is split across two floors, with a no reservations café feel downstairs and bistro-style dining upstairs, which […]
Next month will see the opening of yet another Polpo as Russell Norman expands his small-plates empire into Chelsea. The 40-cover all-day restaurant, with 70-seater al fresco dining terrace, will occupy a Grade II listed Georgian property in Duke of York Square. For those wishing to avoid the “tedious” queues that are ever-present at these Venetian tapas […]
