Birmingham-based chef Aktar Islam, whose stellar flagship Opheem has taken Indian cuisine to new heights in recent years, opens his first London venue today (May 1) – with another restaurant following later this month in Bristol. Oudh 1722, his London debut, has taken over the former site of Lupins in a listed Victorian building on the […]
Aktar Islam started cooking the age of 13 at his father’s restaurant in Birmingham, and his widely acclaimed flagship Opheem is the highest-ranked Indian venue in the Harden’s 100 list. We caught up with him ahead of his London debut with Oudh 1722, which launches on 1st May next door to Borough Market. Hardens: Aktar, […]
High-profile Midlands chef Glynn Purnell has announced the closure of his pub The Mount in Henley-in-Arden after a turbulent two years in which he also closed his flagship restaurant, Purnells in Birmingham. Glynn opened The Mount near Stratford with Luke and Tania Fryer in 2022, and will run its final service on Sunday 15 March […]
A 100-year-old landmark Birmingham hotel abandoned for the past decade will reopen tomorrow as a Nigerian restaurant called Empress. The former Dogpool Hotel in Stirchley has been revived by husband-and-wife team Olusegun Akande and Oyetola Isla, who aim to showcase the richness of their national cuisine. Olusegun says: “We saw potential in this historic site […]
Birmingham high-rise restaurant Orelle is changing its name to 24 Stories as the Evolv Collection – originally Conran Restaurants and more recently D&D London – modifies its structure with the introduction of a series of mini-brands. 24 Stories – on the 24th floor of Birmingham’s tallest office building, 103 Colmore Row – combines with 20 Stories […]
Birmingham’s popular Taiwanese-inspired restaurant Tiger Bites Pig has opened a branch in Brighton following a successful expansion into larger premises in Brum last year. The new venue is in the home city of co-founder Harry Roper, Brighton-born and and bred, who linked up with his partners in the Imposter Group – Ed Shawcross and Max Williams […]
An upscale modern Greek restaurant has opened in Birmingham’s Colmore business district, having taken over a former All Bar One corner site in the Grade II listed Cornwall Buildings. Cylla – named after the man-eating sea monster of Ancient Greek myth, also spelt Scylla – aims to present a “sophisticated approach to Mediterranean dining”, with classic Hellenic […]
Former MasterChef: the Professionals winner and leading Midlands chef Stuart Deeley launches a new restaurant next week at Mallory Court country house hotel outside Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Birmingham-bred Stu, who won MasterChef in 2019, worked at Mallory Court early in his career after studying at Halesowen College. He has had roles at some of […]
Chef David Taylor is to double his footprint at Hampton Manor luxury hotel near Birmingham with the opening next week of restaurant Kynd, following his success with Grace & Savour on the same Warwickshire estate. Grace & Savour opened three years ago, quickly establishing itself as a Midlands powerhouse and rising to number 30 on […]
Chef-restaurateur Andreas Antona has put his landmark Birmingham restaurant Simpsons on the market to mark his retirement after half a century in the industry. Simpsons, set in a Georgian house in leafy Edgbaston, is for sale at £850,000. Andreas, now 67, founded the restaurant 31 years ago, setting a new standard for dining in the […]
