Read all about the hottest new restaurant openings of the last six months.
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Jul
Flat Iron - M3
Swinton
Opening summer 2024 in the former Blacks camping store in Deansgate, the home-coming branch of Manchester-raised Charlie Carroll's successful bargain-price steakhouse group. With 12 outlets in London plus Leeds and Cambridge, it has managed to maintain high standards through expansion. The free ice cream at the end of every meal is a winner.
Albert's Schloss - W1
German
London
On the former West End site of the Rainforest Café (RIP), this boozy Mancunian import – a ‘bier palace’ and ‘cook haus’ providing ‘recreation, indulgence, pleasure, and debauchery” – is to follow up on its spin-offs in Liverpool and Brum with this London debut in early 2024, on the site of Rainforest Café (RIP).
Plates - EC1V
London
Opening on July 3 on Old Street in Shoreditch, a high-end vegan restaurant from Great British Menu 2024 winner Kirk Haworth and his sister Keeley. Bookings may be hard to secure: the first batch sold out within hours of becoming available, three months ahead of launch.
Jun
The Village Pub - GL7
International
Barnsley
Opening June 2024, in the Cotswold village of Barnsley, the first pub from the shabby-chic Pig hotel group, which has taken over boutique hotel Barnsley House across the road (also opening summer 2024). The food is a pubby version of the Pig formula, with a hearty menu based around locally sourced ingredients, served in rustic comfort.
Tender - M2
Manchester City Centre
Opening June 2024 in the Stock Exchange Hotel (owned by ex-footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs), a 'British bistro' from chef Niall Keating, of Lunar in Stoke-on-Trent and formerly of Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds. The grand, domed dining room previously hosted Tom Kerridge's Bull & Bear and the short-lived Stock Market Grill.
Nest Farmhouse - PE31
Kings Lynn
Opening in May 2024 in a converted cattle shed on 1,000-acre Docking
Lodge Farm in north Norfolk, from the team behind London high-fliers St
Bart's and Nest, who have operated summer pop-ups in nearby Burnham
Overy for the past two years. Expect Scandi-style treatment of locally
produced or foraged ingredients.
Notes - YO1
York City Centre
Opening May 2024 in the former site of Fish & Forest on Micklegate, a wine bar from F&F founder, chef Stephen Andrews, who is expanding F&F with a move to Grape Lane, where he’s taking over the premises of bar 1331 from his father.
Tollington's - N4
London
Opening June in a former Finsbury Park chippy, a Spanish-inspired seafood spot from Four Legs, the team behind The Plimsoll nearby. Expect casual drinks and standing bites at the front bar and restaurant seating at the back.
SKOF - M4
Manchester
Opening in 2024 in the city centre's NOMA district, great things are expected of this debut restaurant from Tom Barnes, former executive chef at L'Enclume in the Lake District. He retains close ties with Simon Rogan, his old boss, and will get regular deliveries of produce from L'Enclume's own regenerative farm.
The Park - W2
British, Modern
London
Jeremy King is back! (with a vengeance?) at this big, bold newcomer in a landmark new development opposite Kensington Gardens and on the corner of Queensway. Apparently it will be “very much within the ‘Grand Cafés & Brasseries’ mould that [he] love[s] so much but it is however very much of the early 21st Century rather than 20th". Perhaps that means less of the Edwardian (Ivy, Wolseley, Delaunay) or Victorian (Sheekeys) style that has characterised his earlier openings.
Albatross Death Cult - B3
International
Birmingham City Centre
Opening June 2024 in the Jewellery Quarter, a ‘mostly seafood’ chef’s table restaurant from chef Alex Claridge, of nearby The Wilderness. It replaces Atelier, his cocktail bar that closed down last year, which had become ‘an albatross around my neck’ – hence the name.
Permit Room - CB2
Cambridge (West)
Opening June 2024 in Trinity Street, the new brand from Dishoom, offering all-day food from breakfast nan rolls through to snacks and curries, plus a ready supply of cocktails and other drinks in a jolly atmosphere inspired by post-Independence Bombay.
Henri - WC2E
London
Opening in 2024 in Covent Garden's Henrietta Hotel, a bistro from hot chef Jackson Boxer (of Brunswick House and Orasay) in concert with the Paris-based Experimental Group, with whom he opened a restaurant at Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds last year. Here, he's inspired by his jaunts to Paris as a young chef.
Cloth - EC1A
London
Opening spring 2024 in Cloth Fair, an ancient row of houses that escaped the Great Fire of 1666, a new restaurant from specialist wine importers Joe Haynes and Ben Butterworth, and Tom Hurst, who was head chef at Lasdun and is a graduate of some of London's best modern kitchens. So we're expecting wine and food of unusual quality.
Bar Kroketa - W1F
Spanish
London
Opening 10 June in St Christopher’s Place, a second branch of the off-brand venture from Hispanic specialist Brindisa, following its December 2022 launch in Beak Street.
The Tartan Fox - TR8
Newquay
Opening 4 June in 16th-century listed Carvynick House, in woodland between Newquay and Truro, a pub and restaurant from Adam Handling, of Frog in London and Ugly Butterfly in St Ives. Expect 'sustainable local luxury', using Cornish ingredients – including produce grown in its own garden.
May
mrDeanes - BT1
Irish
Belfast
In the city centre’s Howard Street, the latest venture from pioneering Belfast chef Michael Deane, who has had restaurants on this site since 1997 and closed his flagship Eipic in late 2023. He says it combines the best from the former Brasserie, Deli and Love Fish at the same address.
The Counter Soho - W1F
Carnaby
Opening May 2024 in Kingly Street, Soho, the second London venue from Turkish chef Kemal Demirasal, this time with a focus on dishes from the Aegean coast. Head downstairs to ‘listening bar’ Under the Counter for cocktails.
Native at Pensons - WR15
Tenbury Wells
Opening in May 2024 on the Netherwood Estate, replacing Pensons, which closed at Christmas 2023 after five years. It should make a perfect setting for Native, a zero-waste and foraging specialist that has earned accolades for its creative cuisine at venues in London and Essex.
all’onda - W1T
London
Opening in May 2024 on Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, an ambitious restaurant giving pride of place to risotto – both in classic versions and new incarnations with ingredients from as far away as Japan. Chef Andrea Granzarolo is from Lombardy, birthplace of risotto, and spent six years with Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.
Chartwell - YO61
Aldwark
Opening in May 2024 on the Aldwark Manor Estate luxury hotel near York, a new restaurant said to be inspired by the great Auguste Escoffier. Head chef Chris O'Callaghan has worked in top kitchens including the Fat Duck, Gravetye Manor and L"Ortolan.
Café Petiole - WC2R
London
Opening May 2024 in Somerset House, an all-day 'mostly vegan' cafe from Rishim Sachdeva, of Tendril in Mayfair. You'll find Tendril favourites including its tiramisu, alongside new dishes with an emphasis on baked goods.
Ardfern - EH6
Leith
Opening in May 2024 in the former premises of Mistral, an all-day café, bar, restaurant and bottleshop from chef Roberta Hall-McCarron – next door to her more formal flagship, The Little Chartroom. Named after a village in Argyll and Bute, it allows Roberta and her husband Shaun to offer breakfast and brunch, as they did before the pandemic.
zekki - TA4
Wiveliscombe
In the ‘gateway to Exmoor’, a 30-seat restaurant from self-taught Cypriot chef Tim Zekki, serving West Country ingredients with international flavourings. Telegraph critic William Sitwell hailed it as a “gorgeous and charming flavour bomb of a place”.
Akira Back - W1S
London
In the new Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hanover Square, Mayfair, the long-awaited European debut of Korean celeb chef Akira Back. His self-named main restaurant reinterprets Korean and Japanese dishes, while Dosa is a 14-seat chef’s table offering contemporary Korean dishes prepared using French techniques. He is also behind the hotel’s two bars, ABar Lounge and ABar Rooftop.
The Table - EH3
West End
Under-the-radar New Town establishment where chef Sean Clark cooks a set menu for a maximum of 10 guests seated together at a single stone counter. Food-loving Hollywood director Joe Russo (Avengers, Captain America) is apparently a big fan. You’ll need to book ahead.
La Maison Ani - SW1X
London
In the Carlton Tower Jumeira hotel, Knightsbridge, a French-inspired all-day venue from Dubai-based British-Nigerian chef Izu Ani. The menu is built around French classics, with a burger, pizza and pasta selection to suit the international hotel clientele.
Chez Roux - W1B
London
Following his closure of the iconic Le Gavroche, Michel Roux’s first London foray under the family brand is this May 2024 debut in the hotel where he ran Roux at the Landau for many years. This newcomer isn’t in the old space for the Landau (see Mimosa) but is dinner only in the hotel’s Palm Court, where Michel already consults on lunch and afternoon tea (and he also helps run the adjoining Wigmore gastropub). Despite generally excellent cuisine, his former venture often struggled prior to its Covid-induced closure to garner the recognition it deserved. Perhaps now that its the capital’s sole Roux-branded venue it will rise to a greater prominence? The fact that its under the ‘Chez Roux’ banner (also used by his consultancy at the Greywalls Hotel in Scotland) hints at a level of aspiration that’s ‘haute’ but not at the dizziest of gastronomic heights.
Sotto Cucina & Bar - E1
London
In the basement of the Whitechapel Road’s Hyatt Palace City East hotel, a Sicilian restaurant from Catania-born chef Alfio Laudani (ex-Cypriani). The menu features Sicilian specialities including caponata, arancini and pasta alla Norma.
The Pig’s Ear - SW3
French
London
In Old Church Street, Chelsea, the first pub from the three Gladwin brothers, the latest addition to their ‘Local & Wild’ stable of restaurants supplied by the family farm in West Sussex (which includes Rabbit just up the King’s Road). The grand late-Victorian tavern on a corner site was lavishly renovated as recently as 2021.
Julie’s - W11
British, Modern
London
This Holland Park hotspot from the Seventies is making a comeback next year under a new owner – Tara MacBain, a former regular who lives nearby and trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Expect French brasserie-style cooking from an all-day menu featuring seafood towers – and, in a nod to its louche past – a Martini trolley to save on trips to the bar.
The Creel - EH42
Scottish
Dunbar
This old fisherman's inn on the historic harbourside has been taken over by Jack Findlay (from Logan Thorburn, who ran it for 16 years). The cooking, from a sister-and-brother kitchen team, won a rave review in The Times in May 2024.
The Counter - TN1
Royal Tunbridge Wells
In a three-storey Georgian house in Calverley Road, ambitious cooking from locally born chef Robin Read, who trained under the Roux Brothers and was running hotel kitchens for a London-based group until deciding to branch out on his own in his home town, with wife Greta Boccia overseeing the wine list.
Apple Butter Cafe - WC2H
London
All-day international café brand with sites in Langham Place and Seven Dials, majoring in Insta-friendly sweet dishes including triple-stacked pancakes.
Pomus - CT9
Margate
In The Centre shopping precinct, a restaurant, bar and bottle shop from former Jamie Oliver Group boss Ryan Jacovides. Chef Tony Rodd, a former MasterChef finalist whose Copper & Ink in Blackheath attracted rave reviews, is focusing on local Kent produce.
Gerry’s Hot Subs - EC1R
Sandwiches, cakes, etc
London
In Exmouth Market, a tribute to the North American deli sandwich tradition from Ottawa-born and Detroit-raised Andre Blais (ex-Belgo and Bodeans). The Observer’s Jay Rayner gave it a rave review.
Pasture - B3
Birmingham City Centre
In Colmore Row, the third, latest and biggest branch of the Bristol-based steakhouse from former Jamie Oliver group exec chef Sam Elliott, which has earned a glowing reputation for both value and quality.
Labombe Wine Bar - SE1
London
A Monday-nights-only takeover of the bar at Bermondsey star Trivet, a wine bar with small and sharing plates by Trivet chef Jonny Lake that has access to sommelier Isa Bal’s famed 450-strong wine list. A chance to mix with industry professionals on their night off.
Apr
Restaurant Auction House - LN11
Louth
Opening in April 2024 in the Lincolnshire town's Cornmarket, the first restaurant from ex-Winteringham Fields head chef Gareth Bartram and his wife Lucy. They plan to provide a special experience with great food – and at an attractive price.
Zhima - G1
Merchant City
Taking over the former Prezzo site in St Vincent Place, an ambitious Asian fusion venture bringing together the culinary styles of Canton, Sichuan and Hunan. The style and atmosphere is more Hakkasan than trad Chinese.
UBA - EC2A
London
Opening April 2024 in Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, a vibey pan Asian spot from the Middle Eastern-based outfit behind Sucre and Clap. Expect a modern take on Japanese favourites including sushi and teppanyak, eaten to the beat of DJ sets.
July - W1T
London
On Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia, an all-day bakery, wine bar and restaurant inspired by Alsace. Ex-40 Maltby Street chef Holly Hayes is at the stoves, while wine consultant Honey Spencer has put together an interesting selection of low-intervention wines.
Cardinal - EH3
West End
Opening in March on the fringe of the New Town in Eyre Place, Canonmills, the first solo venture from chef Tomás Gormley, one of the duo behind Heron and Skua. It's an intimate venue serving ambitious 13-course tasting menus using prime Scottish ingredients.
Amber's - HG1
Harrogate
Scheduled for an April opening in the Cedar Court, Harrogate’s oldest hotel (originally Queen’s Hotel, from 1687), a flagship fine dining restaurant promising a traditional British menu using the best of Yorkshire and UK produce. The £500,000 investment includes the Imaginarium private dining space, and takes its name from a distinguished former resident, the progressive thinker and scientist Lady Amber Fitzwilliam.
ABC Kitchens, The Emory - SW1X
London
Opening April 2024 in a new luxury hotel next door to sister establishment the Berkeley in Knightsbridge, ABC Kitchen from Alsatian-born, New York-base celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. A combination of his three New York ABC restaurants is promised, offering an American take on upscale all-day dining.
Gorse - CF11
Canton
In Kings Road, Pontcanna, this former pop-up is a debut restaurant from Newport-born chef Tom Waters, back in Wales after stints in top kitchens including the Fat Duck, The Square and Bryn Williams’s Odette’s. He promises new twists on prime Welsh ingredients.
Under The Table - EH3
West End
Spin-off bistro from The Table upstairs, serving high-quality modern French and Italian dishes from chef Sean Clark at accessible prices. Hailed by The Times as ‘another marvel’.
Roe - E14
London
Opening in spring in Canary Wharf (next door to the floating Hawksmoor in Wood Wharf), a new ultra-sustainable restaurant from the team behind Fallow in St James's. Expect nose-to-tail eating, including a mixed grill of venison (it is named after a native breed of deer) along with vegetables grown on-site using an 'aeroponic' green wall.
Lannan Bakery - EH3
West End
In Stockbridge, hailed by The Times as 'Scotland's most talked about bakery, from 26-year-old Darcie Maher, a self-taught baker from the Borders. The croissants sell out by 9am, but there's plenty more to tempt you
Los Mochis - EC2M
Fusion
London
Open in autumn 2023, a glossy-looking rooftop venue in British Land's first net Zero development in the city. It is to serve the same Japan-meets-Mexico menu as the original off Notting Hill Gate, but the main emphasis will be on the selection of tequilas and mezcals.
Carmel - W1W
London
Opening in March in Fitzrovia, the second branch of popular Queen's Park
eastern Mediterranean-inspired venture. Founder Josh Katz's first big
hit was Berber & Q. Look out for its signature huge filled flatbreads.
Cibo - M2
Italian
Manchester
On the site that - for 14 years - was Rio Ferdinand's Rosso, RIP. There are Cibo branches in Hale and Wilmslow, plus sister restaurant Sasso in Disley, but this will be the first city centre opening.
Agora - SE1
London
Taking over the former Rabot 1745 site at Borough Market in March, a Greek steetfood specialist with a 2-metre rotisserie cooking whole lamb and pig on the spit. Upstairs, opening in April, is the more laid-back Oma, with a raw bar. The team behind the pair have good pedigrees, including Manteca, Kiln and Sabor.
Yasmin - W1B
London
Rooftop terrace, bar and restaurant just of Piccadilly Circus, serving sharing plates inspired by Istanbul, from chef Tom Cenci, along with 'killer cocktails'. Like restaurant Nessa on the ground floor, it is part of members club 1 Warwick but is now open to the public.
The Bear - SE5
London
A classic neighbourhood boozer in Camberwell, brought back to life after being closed for six years. The tucked-away dining area showcases the talents of chef Joe Sharratt, formerly of Brixton hot spot Naughty Piglets.
Cuubo - B17
Harborne
A tiny 20-seater from ex-Simpsons chef Dan Sweet, who transformed his Covid-era takeaway Qbox on Harborne high street following a crowdfunding campaign. The Observer’s Jay Rayner hailed it as "one of the most exciting new restaurants" of recent times.
Alberta’s at The Windmill - BN1
Brighton
A Regency pub near the city centre has become the permanent perch for this former pop-up from Scottish chef Alistair Munro (ex Wild Flor), who cooks an eclectic menu of sandos and spiffed-up fast food classics. The FT's Tim Hayward loved it.
The Cloudberry - TN17
Cranbrook
A cute and intimate 16-seat venue near Sissinghurst from a husband-and-wife team who quit their London careers to open their 'dream restaurant' – Toby, who cooks, and Bev, who looks after the guests. Daily Telegraph critic William Sitwell is a fan.
The Clifton - BS8
British, Modern
Bristol
A former pub in Clifton serving hearty dishes. William Sitwell of the Daily Telegraph gave it a big thumbs-up.
Twenty Eight - CH1
Chester
Little sister restaurant next door to Chef's Table on Pepper Street, serving 'growing-led British tapas', with much of the produce grown on the team's pesticide-free farm, Field28. Times critic Giles Coren is a big fan of the dishes served by ex-Sticky Walnut head chef Jay Tanner.
Med Salleh Viet - W2
London
In Chepstow Road, Westbourne Park, from the Malaysian team behind Med Saleh Kopitiam, a Vietnamese restaurant specialising in pho and grills.
Ranjits Kitchen - G41
Indian
Glasgow
All-day Punjabi canteen in Strathbungo on Glasgow's Southside, offering authentic home cooking from Ranjit Kaur and her family. Tipped by Times restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy as possibly the best Indian vegetarian spot in Scotland – and extremely good value.
Sekkoya - CT1
Canterbury
In the cathedral city's Riverside development, a modern glossy pan-Asian restaurant delivering a range of mostly Chinese dishes alongside cocktails and late-night vibes in a snazzy interior.
Med Salleh Kopitiam - W2
Malaysian
London
Tucked away in the Berjaya Eden Park Hotel in Inverness Terrace, near Bayswater Tube station, which caters mainly for Malaysian tourists, the kopitiam or coffeeshop serves one of London's only Malaysian breakfasts, along with authentic dishes at lunch and dinner. Jay Rayner of the Observer and Giles Coren of The Times are both fans.
Mar
Freddie's - NW3
London
In the shadow of the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, a New York-style Jewish deli named after the owners' son. Open daily until 4pm for Ashkenazi classics, to eat in or take away. Tipped by the Observer's Jay Rayner as a challenger to London's best in the genre.
The Shed - SA1
In a converted Victorian warehouse near the docks, a restaurant celebrating Welsh produce from locally born chef Jonathan Woolway, who polished his skills at St John in London. The Guardian's Grace Dent is an admirer.
A Braccetto - SW5
London
Close to Earl's Court station, a modern take on the classic Italian neighbourhood trat, with pizza and pasta dominating the menu. So it's familiar comfort food with contemporary touches, including natural wines and a communal central table.
thirty7 - WC2E
London
Opening in late March In Bedford Street, Covent Garden, an all-day brasserie from the team behind The Oystermen and nearby Bedford Street Wines. Inspired by the brasseries of Paris and Manhattan, they're not all about seafood this time round and they're sourcing their meat from the West Country.
Maya - M1
Manchester City Centre
Opening in March 2024 in a renovated historic warehouse which it shares with Leven lifestyle hotel on the corner of Canal and Chorlton Streets, this 3-storey venture offers a glossy ‘dinner plus’ experience, with late-night entertainment and DJs. Chef Gabe Lea has worked at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir and The French at the Midland Hotel.
Mimosa at The Langham - W1B
London
Opening in March at the landmark Langham hotel on Portland Place (where it replaces Roux at the Landau), the London outpost of a Paris restaurant inspired by the cuisine and atmosphere of the French Riviera. It even has a 'Mimosa Bar', presenting the French version of devilled eggs as the basis for tapas-style bites.
Lita - W1U
London
In Paddington Street, Marylebone, featuring live-fire cooking over wood on a dramatic grill, a new restaurant inspired by the sokuthern Mediterranean. Co-founder Luke Ahearne is a former head chef at Corrigan's in Mayfair, and he's working with top-class ingredients.
Prelude - WC2E
London
Opening March 2024 in Covent Garden's The Yards development, a
three-month pop-up that will morph into a permanent site for Oriole,
from the Speakeasy cocktail bar group behind Bar Swift and Nightjar. The
emphasis here is on food, with South American fusion cuisines to the
fore, including Nikkei and Argentinian/Italian dishes.
Medlock Canteen - M15
New Jackson
All-day dining in the Deansgate Square development, with a top kitchen team under chef under Sam Grainger (from Belzan and Madre in Liverpool) knocking out classy versions of straightforward dishes. The Observer's Jay Rayner was impressed by his meal here.
Rucola at The Conduit - WC2H
London
On the top floor of Covent Garden's the socially conscious Conduit members' club, in The Yards development, this restaurant is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. There's a 'plant-forward' menu of northern Italian-via-Brooklyn dishes – so no beef on the outdoor terrace barbecue.
Fish & Bubbles - W11
London
A first of its kind in London, Fish & Bubbles – a modern Italian seafood restaurant and aperitivo bar - is now open on Notting Hill’s Kensington Park Road, brought to us by the brothers behind Stanley Tucci favourite, La Mia Mamma. Expect gourmet seafood panini, giant fritto misto sharing boards and cicchetti, plus knock-out negronis and plenty of bubbles to boot!
Gracey's Pizza - AL2
Chiswell Green
A former lockdown project that has graduated via pop-ups to a permanent site with an enthusiastic social media following. Featured in the Sunday Times for its New Haven-style pizzas, cooked at low temperatures for a light crust and with a concise choice of toppings.
The Counter - W10
London
Chef Kemal Demirasal’s first restaurant outside Turkey showcases his upscale take on the traditional Anatolian ocakbasi, with dishes including his signature white chocolate babaganoush. The wine list features bottles from Turkey, Greece, Armenia and Georgia.
Wilson's - SE13
London
Restaurant and wine bar on Ladywell High Street in southeast London, next door to organic food stockist Plenty and opposite coffee shop Oscar’s, both from the same founders. Chef Henry Freestone has worked in some of the hippest kitchens around town, including nearby Peckham Cellars and east London’s Crispin and Bambi.
Paz Taqueria - EH2
New Town
In New Town’s thriving Thistle Street, on the former site of Mexican cantina El Cartel (from ex-El Cartel group honcho Stuart McCluskey), an ultra-minimalist addition to the city’s taco scene highly rated by Times critic Chitra Ramaswarmy.
Dream Xi’an - EC3R
City of London
A modern venue near Tower Hill featuring Shangxi-style hand-pulled noodles and dumplings from the people behind cult favourites Xi'an Expression and Master Wei. Its a bigger space with a kitchen to match, so there are new specials including fried bao buns.
Bavette - LS18
Horsforth
Opened In February 2024, a contemporary bistro in Horsforth from Yorkshire-born chef Sandy Jarvis, returning after a successful decade in London. Low-intervention wines are a major focus: co-founder Clement Cousin grew up on a biodynamic vineyard in the Loire Valley, and his family's wines are on the list.
Laghi’s - B15
Edgbaston
This longstanding family-run Italian in Islington Row, Edgbaston, now has a kitchen run by MasterChef: The Professionals’ 2019 winner Stu Deeley. His pasta and other dishes won a rave review from Tom Parker Bowles in the Daily Mail.
Arlington - SW1A
London
Veteran restaurateur Jeremy King has taken over the lease of the order Le Caprice, behind the Ritz in St James's – the restaurant where he made his name 40 years ago. Opening in spring 2024, it will be very much a re-creation of the original but for legal reasons under a new name – even down to a menu of 'greatest hits' from Le Caprice of the 90s, such as bang bang chicken and salmon fishcakes.
Feb
Yum Bug - N4
London
Now at a permanent venue in Finsbury Park with a menu based on crickets farmed near Cambridge, this project from an entomologist and a designer seeks to demonstrate that insects are edible, delicious and good for the planet. A pop-up in Shoreditch in late 2023 proved that the proposition had legs – now it has wings to fly.
Bruno - E9
London
Opening in January in Hackney's Victoria Park Village, the latest venture from Swiss-born wine specialist Michael Sager (of Sager + Wilde) promises a "very personal" selection of natural wines, accompanied by Swiss-style stuffed pretzels and other light nibbles. It doubles as a bottle shop by day.
RAI - WC1B
London
Reopening in February at a new address in Bayley Street, Bloomsbury, this highly rated sushi and omakase specialist (from the team behind Islington's Hot Stone) had a brief run in Fitzrovia before closing down last year. With just 10 seats at tables and another eight at a sushi counter, it is a tiny space but is big in culinary ambition.
Camille - SE1
London
A modern bistro in Borough Market from the team behind Soho's Ducksoup. The early reviews are very promising for both its atmosphere and its classic Gallic cuisine.
Alfi - E1
London
This new 'pub' in Spitalfields Market has no fewer than 10 wines on tap (and just a couple of beers), with a focus on organic and biodynamic European vintages, including orange and pet nat. Its restaurant is scheduled to follow in February, with dishes cooked on a lava stone robata grill.
Ho Lee Fook - W1T
Chinese
London
From Black Sheep group, owned by Hong Kong restaurateur Syed Asim Hussain; guest-cheffed at Carousel 27 July–5 August 2023 before looking for a permanent home - more info as we know it.
Franklin & Baines - SW4
London
Opening March 2024 in Clapham High Street, an Anglo-American steakhouse
with rooftop dining. Expect a US-leaning menu featuring grass-fed,
dry-aged British steaks along with drinks from both sides of the pond,
with bottomless lunches and late-night DJ sets providing a party
atmosphere at weekends.
Mistress - SW1A
London
In the basement below Caviar House on Piccadilly, this restaurant and members’ bar opened in February 2024. The mood board for the design was ‘Parisian decadence’ (with straplines on the website like ‘The Mistress will see you now’). Decorwise, this translates into acres of plush dark-red fabrics set against white tablecloths. No survey reports yet on the Gallic-inspired sharing plates of lobster, caviar and truffle with – as the website puts it – ‘a supporting cast of French fries, and oysters’. That gold leaf is felt necessary to gild some of the puddings, though, may hint at priorities that don’t always put flavour first.
Morchella - EC1R
London
Opening in February in Exmouth Market (in the former Firebrand Pizza site), a Mediterranean-style restaurant with separate wine bar from the team behind Perilla on Newington Green. Chef Daniel Fletcher has worked at The Square and Sky Garden, so expect top-class cooking.
Liu Xiaomian - W1B
London
On the first floor in Kingly Court, Carnaby, the first permanent venue
for Chongqing natives Liu Qian and Charlene Liu. Their noodles in hot
broth and other specialities from central-western China have been a big
hit on the supperclub circuit.
Singapulah - W1D
London
Opening in February in Shaftesbury Avenue, a showcase restaurant for specialist ingredients from Singapore, which are also available to buy retail. Restaurateur Ellen Chew, who also runs Chinatown's Rasa Sayang, started out selling hawker-style street food in Singapore, so expect authentic Straits cuisine.
The Shoap - EC1V
London
Just south of the Angel, Islington, a combined deli, café and restaurant from ‘Auld Hag’, a Glaswegian former economist’s celebration of Scottish ingredients and cooking. Highly recommended by Evening Standard critic Jimi Famurewa.
Colina - CT9
Margate
Opening in February, the new restaurant in Fort Lane Hotel brings the flavours of southern Europe to Margate with a 'fish-forward' menu from Portuguese chef Luis Freitas. There's also a basement bar decorated with work by artists with local connections, including Tracey Emin.
Hansom Restaurant and Wine Bar - DL8
Bedale
Taking over the former site of Tom & Nellie's, the debut from rising
star chef Ruth Hansom, born in Darlington, trained at the Ritz and head
chef last through 2023 at luxury Swinton Park Hotel, nearby. With just
16 seats, diners are promised an 'epicurean adventure'.
Ashlack Hall - LA17
Kirkby-in-Furness
An old-world, family-owned manor house near Kirkby-in-Furness on the
edge of the Lake District. Ballymaloe-trained Bobby Keegan and his
partner Jenna Freak serve estate-sourced meals family-style, at one big
sharing table in the dining room.
The Bell - OX7
Charlbury
Part of Carole Bamford's Daylesford Organic empire, this 17th-century
Cotswold pub has 12 bedrooms. Meals are served in the pub or the Barn,
designed for weekend 'feasting' with food from the wood-fired grill.
Fallachan Kitchen - G3
Glasgow
This 12-seater chef's table, in the hip post-industrial setting of a
railway arch near the Clydeside Expressway, has won a rave review in The
Times for its ultra-seasonal and local tasting menus. Presiding genius
Craig Grozier is a private chef who only opens it to the public on
select evenings each month.
Cinnamon Bazaar Richmond Upon Thames - TW9
London
Taking over the former Carluccio's venue diagonally opposite the station, top chef Vivek Singh's second Bazaar offshoot from his classy Cinnamon Club flagship in Westminster offers Indian street-food dishes, starting early with Anglo-Indian breakfast specials from 9am.
Grasso - W1D
London
Owned and operated by a family with roots in Sicily-via-New York, on an ex-Wagamama site in Dean Street, Soho, this new venture serves classic Stateside Italian dishes such as spaghetti with meatballs from a family recipe, chicken Parm, penne all vodka and Caesar salad.
The Rectory - SN16
Malmesbury
This Georgian-era hotel with 18 rooms near Malmesbury in Wiltshire has a
new kitchen which combines the talents of Jake Simpson (ex-Bocca di
Lupo) and James Erasmus (ex-Ledbury & Harwood Arms). Its sibling pub,
the Potting Shed, is just across the road.
Bellazul - W1U
London
Opening on February 1, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Blandford Street, Marylebone, from for Cecconi's chef Simone Serafini. Find flavours of Marocco and Greece as well as Italy, and head upstairs to Bar Azul for cocktails and lighter bites.
The Lookout - PH41
Knoydart
Seafood and steak bistro at Inver, the only village on the remote Knoydart peninsula in the West Highlands, with spectacular views over Loch Nevis. Serves both breakfast and dinner, but make sure you book in advance: the next restaurant is miles away
Big Night - E9
London
Taking over the former Nest site in Hackney's Morning Lane, this informal venue offers communal dining on skewers of grilled meat and other small plates. It's inspired by Japan's izakaya drinking dens, while using British ingredients.
Brooke - SW4
London
In Clapham's Abbeville Road hotspot, the latest venture from the team behind Fulham favourites The Sands End, Brown Cow and Brook House offers modern British cuisine in both small and large-plate format, at lunch and dinner.
YiQi - WC2H
London
Modern Pan-Asian venture in Chinatown, featuring Malaysian specialities
including rice roasted in bamboo tubes. Chef Lum Wah Cheok is a veteran
of upmarket kitchens including Hakkasan and Yauatcha.
PRAVAAS - SW7
Indian
London
Stylish contemporary Indian cuisine close to South Ken tube station,
with 30 covers plus a 20-seater private dining room in the basement.
This is the first follow-up to highly rated Pure Indian Cooking in
Fulham High Street, from chef-owner Shilpa Dandekar (ex-Quilon and
Raymond Blanc).
Jan
Psycho Sandbar - LS1
Leeds city centre
Radical chef O'Hare is retiring his theatical The Man Behind the Curtain at the end of the year, and relaunching the venue after a short break in 2024 under a new guise, taking inspiration from surf culture. The move is partly in response to the financial crisis, so we can expect less labour intensive – and less costly – dishes, with a focus on seafood.
Josephine - SW10
London
Opening January 2024 in Chelsea's Fulham Road, chef Claude Bosi (of Bibendum) and his wife Lucy's tribute to the 'bouchons' of his native Lyons is named in memory of his grandmother. Expect hearty traditional cuisine with plenty of meat, offal, onions and butter, specialities including quenelles, and wines from Beaujolais and the Rhône.
