9 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QE
Harden's says
Having been for years at 50 Preston Road, Set 2.0 as they are calling it on their Insta is open down the road at no 9 as of May 2026. The new incarnation will have just 12 seats.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“An absolutely stunning concept (14-16 mini plates) with great creativity and execution” – Dan Kenny aims to provide ‘a tasting menu of big-flavoured, umami- and fat-led food’ at his 12-16 cover venue, not far from Preston Park and underneath the viaduct: an experience you are advised to allow about two and half hours for. All who comment are fans, although it can appear “interesting but expensive”. On the plus side, one fan notes: “I have recommended it to everyone I know, and everyone who has been so far has always booked again”.
Summary
In June 2021, Dan Kenny found a new home for his project in Café Rust, not far from Preston park and underneath the viaduct. It’s a small place, with a two-person team in the kitchen aiming for big, umami flavours from a fixed 14-20 course tasting menu over two-and-a-half hours, and though it inspires somewhat limited feedback, fans say results are “just flawless”.
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Set?
Owner's description
After 11 years of pop-ups, collaborations, and residencies across Brighton, Dan Kenny & Marcin Miasik will open The Set on 27th May. This will be The Set’s first permanent restaurant, located at 9 Preston Rd, Brighton.
A small, chef-led space built entirely from scratch, The Set will offer a unique dining experience unlike anything Brighton has seen before.
The restaurant will seat just 12 guests at a counter, with a fully open kitchen so diners can be fully immersed in every part of the process. It will be a real dining experience that celebrates local produce, with no traditional menu, and no distractions (including phones).
While the approach to The Set is laidback, every detail from service and pacing to the smallest touches on the table, has been carefully considered.
Across the week, The Set will run a flexible format designed to make the space accessible while maintaining its core approach.
• Monday - Masu takes over, with Tony hosting a Japanese BBQ dinner. Industry discounts available.
• Tuesday- The restaurant is closed to the public during the day and offered free of charge for charity use. In the evening, Tony of Masu returns with a Japanese BBQ.
• Wednesday - The Set runs the kitchen with its M.A.D (Midweek Affordable Dinner) menu — 6–8 courses for £45 per person. Two sittings: 5:45pm and 8:00pm.
• Thursday - The Set presents its full Set Menu experience.
• Friday - Ramen lunches (coming soon). In the evening: The Set’s full Set Menu
experience.
• Saturday - The Set offers its full Set Menu experience, alongside Masu’s dedicated
sushi omakase experience.
• Sunday - Masu returns with a more relaxed, sushi-led lunch service.
The Set’s full Set Menu experience is 12-15 courses (£99), built around seasonality and technique, with a focus on flavour over formality.
The restaurant celebrates its local community through collaborations with Brighton-based makers and suppliers. Local artist and chef Alison Clare created bespoke pieces using repurposed materials like bones, shells, ash and clay, transforming them into tableware and decor that reflect sustainability and a strong sense of place.
The Set will share the space with Tony of Masu, bringing together two distinct but aligned approaches to cooking under one roof. Across the week, this collaboration will take shape through three core offerings: Sundays will focus on sushi a la carte with elements of Japanese BBQ, Mondays will lean into a more relaxed izakaya-style menu featuring BBQ skewers, and Saturdays will be dedicated to a sushi omakase experience (bookings only).
In addition, The Set is developing its own long-term community initiative, Onigiri4all. Planned to launch in late summer 2026, the project will focus on tackling food poverty across Brighton. Using simple, nourishing Japanese rice dishes as a starting point, Onigiri4all aims to provide accessible, high-quality food to those in need.
The opening marks a significant moment for Dan Kenny and Marcin, who have spent over a decade working across venues including Cafe Coho, The Curry Leaf Cafe, Artist Residence, and Cafe Rust - building a following without ever having a permanent home.
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
9 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QE
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 6.30‑11 pm |
| Friday | 6.30‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 6.30‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
