The first of three new beer palaces scheduled for London’s West End opens this month. The Munich-style beer hall Bierschenke Bierkeller spent a decade in the City near Liverpool Street until its lease came to an end, and has now taken over the former Belgo site in Covent Garden. Bierschenke serves six types of sausage […]
Jeremy King has made a surprise return to the hospitality scene – as part of Jamie Oliver’s relaunched UK business. Considered by many the doyen of London restaurateurs as founder of the Wolseley and other top-drawer establishments, Jeremy was ousted from his Corbin & King group last year after a bitter struggle with Thai-based majority investor […]
Hot-shot chef Tom Sellers opens his latest restaurant tomorrow (1st April) – Story Cellar off Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden, a counter-and-basement spot inspired by Parisian brasseries. As the name suggests, it is an offshoot of his celebrated flagship, Restaurant Story near Tower Bridge, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year with a makeover and a […]
Fair Shot Café, the all-day venue that provides training and jobs for young adults with educational disabilities, is moving into smart new premises in Covent Garden’s development The Yards, where it will be the West End’s first not-for-profit café. Founder Bianca Tavella, previously creative director of Petersham Nurseries, opened the original Fair Shot Café in […]
Indian restaurateur Gobind Chona has opened his debut London venue Gura Gura, a pan-Asian bar and kitchen in the Yards development in Covent Garden. Set over two floors, Gura Gura presents his take on Japanese and Chinese cuisine, with excursions into Korea and Southeast Asia. The menu is built around sushi, dim sum and a […]
A Spanish-Israeli fusion restaurant opened this week in a German-owned boutique hotel in Covent Garden. Penelope’s is named after the daughter of Hotel Amano co-founder Ariel Schiff (pictured, middle), who grew up between Tel Aviv and souther Spain. Dishes on the menu include Israeli-style paella with whole lobster, freekeh and gin-tomato sauce; Israeli sofrito combining […]
The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is to open Piazza, its fifth-floor restaurant, to the public for the first time when it relaunches this month. Previously restricted to ticket-holders on the day of a performance, Piazza will be open for lunch every day and dinner every night except Sunday from 27 September – allowing […]
Sunda Kitchen, a new Southeast Asian restaurant and cocktail bar, opened in Covent Garden this week from Jamie Younger, co-owner of Thai food pioneer the Begging Bowl in Peckham. Occupying the former site of Wahlburgers in James Street, Sunda has a menu of snacks and sharing plates including Thai KFC cauliflower with tamarind mayo, Malaysian […]
Asma Khan has relaunched her Darjeeling Express as a pop-up in a Kensington pub while she looks for a new permanent site, having closed last month after less than two years in Covent Garden. The restaurant opened this week in its temporary siding at the Pembroke, almost next door to the Troubadour in the Old […]
A new all-day British brasserie opens in London’s Theatreland next Wednesday. St Martin’s House occupies a site at the top of St Martin’s Lane near Seven Dials in Covent Garden, formerly occupied by Tredwell’s (RIP). The three-storey venue is open every day of the week and has a menu of classic British dishes including Cornish […]
