Former Cycene chef Theo Clench is to relaunch the chic Mayfair open-fire restaurant Humo next week as Igni, a little over a year after the departure of launch chef Miller Prada. As suggested by the new name (from the Latin ‘ignis’, meaning fire), the restaurant will continue its culinary approach, although Theo has warned guests […]
Chef and foodwriter Ravinder Bhogal is to open a second branch of her restaurant Jikoni this weekend at the stunning new V&A East Museum in Stratford, east London. Ravinder opened the original Jikoni in Marylebone 10 years ago, winning high praise in this year’s Harden’s Guide for her “delicious and original Indian-fusion cooking”. She and […]
Richard Caring has pulled off one of the biggest deals in restaurant history, with the much delayed sale of his hospitality group bagging him a billion-pound profit after two decades of ownership. Following protracted negotiations since late 2023, it was revealed last weekend that he had sold his majority share in the group for a […]
Two generations from a family of London restaurant ‘royalty’ have combined forces for the first time, to open a dining pub in North Kensington that launches next week. Jon Spiteri (second from left in picture), a veteran general manager best known as co-founder of St John, and Melanie Arnold (second from right), co-founder of Rochelle […]
Chef Charlie Simmonds is opening his debut venue called Ebb at the end of Worthing’s Victorian pier this month, replacing hit restaurant Tern which moved on to permanent premises on dry land in December. Ebb occupies the upper storey of the pier’s Grade II listed Southern Pavilion – a space with stunning sea views known as […]
Our round-up of what the nation’s restaurant critics were writing about in the week up to 12th April 2026 London Standard Impala, Soho David Ellis was thrilled by the “one-off” cooking at former Kiln head chef Meedu Saad’s Egyptian-inspired grill, which he hailed as “fusion food without the naffness” in the mould of “West-African-but-not-really” Ikoyi […]
If you’ve ever wondered how the Harden’s Guide came about, our co-founder Peter Harden reveals all in an interview with the veteran restaurant consultant, writer and Financial Times contributor Nick Lander. Peter naturally declines naming his favourite restaurant, but he does mention some memorable meals, and offers a fascinating account of his aims in publishing […]
A Slavic-inspired wine and listening bar serving East European-style sharing plates has opened this week in Notting Hill. Called Sova – ‘owl’ in several Slavic languages – it is from the team behind Russian restaurant Zima in Soho, and replaces their year-old Notting Hill offshoot. A wine list from consultant sommelier Christian Vega focuses on […]
Gareth Ward’s Gwen in Machynlleth – the best restaurant in Wales for the past two years, according to our annual Harden’s survey – is to close next month after three years in which it has earned the highest accolades. Named after Gareth’s mother, the tiny venue – just three metres wide and with eight seats – is six […]
A vibey Japanese restaurant called Mitsu opens in Shoreditch this week, in the cavernous space formerly occupied by a branch of Nobu. Billed as ‘a new Japanese izakaya shaped by the energy of Tokyo nights and East London’s rhythm’, Mitsu serves a menu of classic Japanese dishes such as nigiri, sashimi and tempura, plus porterhouse […]
