RestaurantsLondonChelseaSW1W

Harden's says

Opening this summer in the new Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, this all-day venture from restaurateur Mar Martin aims to combine "Barcelona soul" with the best British produce. "Campaner" means bell-ringer in Catalan – heralding an important announcement.

survey result

Summary

Opened shortly before the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show, this svelte looking newcomer – with coffee and light bites during the day and food from the Josper oven available at lunch and dinner – aims to be an anchor attraction of the nearby Chelsea Barracks development, and is operated by José Parrado (who runs a number of high-profile Barcelona restaurants). A glance at the menu’s panic-inducing prices suggests the cost-of-living crisis is in full swing, with a tomato juice at £9, a bowl of chips at £8.50, and most mains on the lunch or dinner menu around the £40 mark. Nor is our only early feedback encouraging: “there is a lot of marketing hype on this place… do not believe it”.

Summary

In the rarefied quarters of the Candy Brothers’ plutocratic Chelsea Barracks development, this autumn 2022 newcomer aims to be the first permanent occupant of the purpose-built space that has previously hosted two Ollie Dabbous pop-ups: The Chelsea Barracks Kitchen and Hideaway. José Parrado of Barcelona’s ventures Martinez and Bar Canete is behind the project, whose name means bell ringer in Spanish.

For 33 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 Campaner?

1 Garrison Close, Chelsea Barracks, London, SW1W 8BP

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Observer

“The whole thing feels mildly ill-at-ease with itself.”

Jay Rayner reviewed The Campaner, “the new London outpost of an apparently famous restaurant group in Barcelona” that’s dropped into the private “Qatari-funded development which occupies what was once Chelsea Barracks”. Prices for the mostly Spanish menu are what you’d expect for the location.

It’s “a red brick edifice of vaulting arches” decorated with “oversized lampshades” and “giant tins of caviar”. There are small plates and some “fearsomely priced big plates” on offer.

“Some of the food here is really very good. Granted, some of it isn’t. A couple of dishes make us frown and tut. But the good things are terrific.” (Try the vitello tonnato ‘Frankie Gallo Cha Cha Cha’ but avoid the “spicy sausage rolls”, while Catalan “socarrat” with red prawns is “an absolute belter of a dish”.)

“The eating is mainly good here – as long as you have deep pockets.”

Jay Rayner - 2023-10-15
1 Garrison Close, Chelsea Barracks, London, SW1W 8BP
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday12 pm‑12 am
Wednesday12 pm‑12 am
Thursday12 pm‑12 am
Friday12 pm‑12:30 am
Saturday12 pm‑12:30 am
Sunday12 pm‑6 pm

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