Whepstead, Spanish Restaurant Guide

Aims are high for this April 2025 newcomer, backed by one of the owners of Shoreditch’s The Clove Club, which is centred around a 20 cover chef’s table. It’s run by husband-and-wife duo chef Ruben Aguilar Bel (Petrus, Canvas, Akelarre in San Sebastian) and pastry chef Gabriella Fogarasi (Murano, One Aldwych Hotel), and offers a 6-7 course tasting menu (extended to 10 at weekends) informed by Ruben’s Spanish heritage (Bellota derives from the Spanish word for ‘acorn’). It opened after our diners’ poll had concluded, but in her August 2025 review, The Guardian’s Grace Dent declared it one of her top five openings of the year: “there’s something hugely beguiling going on here, and even verging on swaggering”. Everything Grace ate was “fabulous”, from “hot, crisp, truffled croquetas” (“better than many I’ve tasted even in Spain”), via “masterful al dente raviolo… all dressed in a heavenly manchego sauce”, hake with squid ink, and Creedy Carver duck. After only three months it is already getting difficult to book a seat. Top Menu Tip – from Grace’s review: Thai green curry ice-cream with warm pistachio cake and confit apricots. “Yes, you read that right: I did say Thai green curry ice-cream. And, yes, it works. Don’t try this at home, people”.