Chef Steven Smith, who left the acclaimed Ribble Valley gastropub Freemasons in Wiswell in June, has announced his next move – to head up futuristic Japanese restaurant MUSU in Manchester. Steven transformed Freemasons over 15 years into one of the most commented-on venues in the annual Harden’s survey, which described it this year as ‘a fine-dining […]
Two former pop-ups which combine hifi sounds with tasty food (and serious drinks) have opened in South London – Hausu in Peckham and Jazu in Deptford. Hausu, which has taken over the former Coal Rooms premises in the old booking hall at Peckham Rye station, describes its approach as ‘vintage high-fidelity sound & modern cuisine’. This […]
Highly rated Glasgow small-plates specialist Ox and Finch is closing tomorrow night for a six-month overhaul, allowing the team behind it – Jonathan MacDonald’s Scoop – to launch two separate restaurants at the same address in the city centre. First up will be Margo, described as a “bigger and bolder” version of Ox and Finch, […]
Our round-up of what the nation’s restaurant reviewers were writing about in the week up to 6th October 2024 The Observer In a footnote to Jay Rayner’s damning review last week of restaurant 18 at Rusacks hotel in St Andrew’s, 18’s executive chef Billy Boyter this week announced his departure after just eight months – with […]
A pair of young chefs are launching a pop-up called ‘Pario’ at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall next week, taking over the space left empty since the closure of Mark Hix’s Pharmacy 2 three years ago. George Brown, a private chef with plenty of pop-up experience, and Charlie Bryant, who has worked at […]
Peruvian restaurant LIMA this week opened its third branch, LIMA Shoreditch, in the boutique Sun Street Hotel on the edge of the City. Brothers Gabriel & José Luís Gonzales launched the original in Fitzrovia in 2012, and followed up two years later with a Covent Garden branch, Lima Cantina. Gabriel said, “We are beyond thrilled […]
Simon Wood (pictured) announced the shock closure of his acclaimed Manchester restaurant WOOD earlier this week, closely followed by Michael O’Hare confirming the closure of Psycho Sandbar in Leeds – which had only been open for seven months after replacing his famous The Man Behind The Curtain. Michael said he was proud of what he had […]
Islington’s post-covid curry phenomenon Tamil Prince has opened its first offshoot in South London with the launch this week of Tamila in Clapham. The restaurant has taken over the former site of VE Kitchen in Northcote Road – the main drag of thriving ‘Nappy Valley’, south of Clapham Junction station. Tamila brings back the name of […]
Edinburgh sommelier James Clark (left in picture) launches his debut project today (4 October) – Sotto, a wine bar and restaurant in Stockbridge that celebrates Italian food and wine. Sotto – meaning ‘under’ or ‘beneath’, a reference to the under-street cellar where the wines are stored – comprises an upstairs ‘enoteca’ and a ground-level trattoria led by Calabrian-born Francesco […]
Our round-up of what the nation’s restaurant reviewers were writing about in the week up to 29th September 2024 London Standard The Ritz, Piccadilly In a week when ‘fine dining’ emerged as a coincidental theme for reviewers, David Ellis was clearly in the mood to celebrate his elevation to the role of the Standard’s chief […]
