THE COMPLETE GUIDE OF THE BEST NEW OPENINGS
Address: Bishopsgate Rd, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0YL
Opening Date: September 2021
3 restaurants: 1215 at Fairmont Windsor Park, orchid tea room and Moreish
3 bars: 1215 Bar, Schroders' Botanicals Bar and The Library Club
1 café: Greens Café
Set in a separate wing of the hotel, Fairmont Windsor Park is home to 15 elegantly designed meeting spaces. The rooms are designed to stimulate thought and discussion, and there is also a pillar-free ballroom which can accommodate 700 guests, perfect for grand events. The beautifully landscaped gardens also provide the perfect scenery, as the hotel also has an abundance of outdoor space.
Address: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Opening Date: 1 September 2021 (Devonshire Square follows in Autumn 2021)
Pan Pacific Hotels Group is coming to London, taking over a huge new space in the Bishopsgate Plaza development. There will be three new bars and restaurants as well as a further two in the adjoining Devonshire House encompassing Singaporean luxe in The City.
Address: Greenwich Peninsula.
Opening date: 1st September 2021
Is and bringing six global street food operators
The architecturally impactful structure is unlike any other food hall within the capital and located the heart of the Design District, with six carefully chosen independent food traders: Eat Lah, Ehla, Guasa, Sugo, Raastawala and Toasted -
Address: 337 Acton Mews, Haggerston, London E8 4EA
Opening Date: 1 September 2021
Chelsea-based fishmonger and restaurant The Sea, The Sea is also heading east, taking over the spot where board game cafe Draughts used to be.
SUPA YA Ramen
Address: 499 Kingsland Road, Dalston London E8 4AU
Opening Date: 2 September 2021
Launch offer: £10 bowls for one day only
For the past few years they've been running supperclubs and residencies, but now Supa Ya Ramen are finally getting ready to open their first permanent restaurant.
Address: 1 Corbridge Cres, London E2 9DS
Opening Date: 2 September 2021
The Water House project finds a new Hackney home near Regent's Canal
Gabriel Waterhouse's Water House Project started as a supper club, then became a successful restaurant in Hackney. However, it turns out that was a temporary location and they're now moving to a more permanent space nearby.
Address: Netil Market, Westgate Street, London E8 3RL
Opening Date: 3 September 2021
Fancy a lobster muffin for brunch? Then the new seafood shack from Fin and Founder is for you.
MEATOPIA 2021
Address: Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Quay, Wapping Ln, London E1W 2SF
Opening Date: 3-5 September 2021
Meatopia London is back for 2021 with the line-up headliners revealed
As sure a sign that London is returning to some kind of normality is the revival of some of the city's food festivals. So we're happy to report that, after a fallow year, Meatopia is coming back in September.
BREAD AHEAD AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL CAFE
Address: London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Opening Date: 6 September 2021
Promising loaves, if not fishes, the new Bread Ahead Cafe popping up for a six-month residency at Southwark Cathedral is going to be shaking up their food offering.
Address: Whitcomb Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DT
Opening Date: 6 September 2021
Super boutique hotel /London’s first ‘iceberg hotel’ is opening in Leicester Square
It has one of the deepest basements in the world
Leicester Square's food and drink scene gets an injection of cool with this upcoming hotel promising a rooftop bar with firepits, two Odeon luxe cinemas and a signature all day restaurant.
The Londoner 'super boutique' hotel on Leicester Square will have cinemas, rooftop bar and more
Boasting that it'll be "the world’s first ‘Super Boutique’ hotel", The Londoner on Leicester Square is going to have all manner of things to entice actual Londoners through its doors.
The 350 room, 16 storey hotel, which has had more than £300m splurged on it, and many restaurants:
Whitcomb's
The Stage - the lobby bar, focusing on Champagne.
Joshua’s Tavern
8 at The Londoner
Address: 55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8PG
Opening Date: 7 September 2021
MiMi Mei Fair is an opulent Chinese restaurant from the team behind Jamavar
Opulent new restaurant in Mayfair
The restaurateur behind Jamavar and Bombay Bustle is opening another Mayfair venture in September. This one’s called MiMi Mei Fair and will evoke the opulent wonders of old-world China.
If the thought of a mystical dining room with trinkets from old-world China appeals, read on. MiMi Mei Fair is the third venture for restaurateur Samyukta Nair, previously behind the openings of the successful Jamavar and Bombay Bustle. Also located in Mayfair, MiMi Mei Fair imagines what it would be like to dine in the secret residence of an empress (named Empress MiMi, which means ‘secret’ in Mandarin).
HAUGEN AT THE PAVILION by D & D
Address: Stratford, London
Opening Date: 9 September 2021
Huge restaurant in the Olympic Park
Address: 147 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
Opening Date: 10 September 2021
Japanese tea room arrives on Brick Lane
Address: 24-26 Brunswick Centre WC1N 1AW
Opening Date: 11 September 2021
The hugely popular Tian Tian Market is once again expanding - and this time it's heading to Bloomsbury (in The Brunswick centre). They're taking over what was the New Look store.
KOYA KO Broadway Market
Address: 12 Broadway Market Mews, London E8 4TS
Opening Date: 13 September 2021
Koya Ko is bringing their udon to Hackney. fans of Koya will be very happy - they're opening their latest restaurant on Broadway Market (taking over the space where Twigs used to be).
Address: 28 Brewer Street, Soho, London W1F 0SR
The Filipino ramen restaurant that you love in Kentish Town Road will be opening it’s door to a second branch in Soho.
Whether you’re an avid ramen enthusiast or have more of a general interest in Southeast Asian flavour, Ramo Ramen is your new hotspot in Brewer Street this coming, September!
From being the home to London’s best ice cream in Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream, to the best sandos in Panadera Bakery, to now creating innovative ramen in a new space in London,
Chef Omar Shah says: “Aside from introducing Filipino dessert to London with Mamasons, we are proud to continue to represent Filipino flavours in the London food scene. It’s a great honour and opportunity for us to build something special for the Soho community and open our flagship store here.”
Bringing an all star cocktail list and new dishes
Address: 31 Windmill St, London W1T 2JN
ReOpening Date: 16 September 2021
The slow but steady reopening of London restaurants that have been closed since the early days of the first lockdown continues apace, with the return of BAO Fitzrovia.
Address: 49 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 6HL
Opening Date: 25 September 2021
Launch offer: On opening day the first 100 customers will get a free croissant
If layers of flaky pastry are your thing, then you'll be wanting to know about Criss Cross. Opening in Soho this month, this new cafe and shop is devoted to one thing and one thing only - the croissant.
Address: 387 Roman Road, London E3 5QR
Opening Date: Open now
It serves up hard liquor and BBQ in Bow
Address: 120 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH
Re-opening Date: 17 September 2021
is back in Hackney for the first time in 18 months
Another restaurant that's been closed since March 2020 is making a triumphant return.
EKSTEDT AT THE YARD by NIKLAS EKSTEDT
Address: 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN
Opening Date: 17th September 2021
Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt is coming to London to open his first restaurant outside Stockholm, Ekstedt at the Yard, inside the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in Westminster. The new spot is replacing Robin Gill’s restaurant The Yard and is going to focus on his signature live fire cooking, and you’ll be able to see all the action thanks to the open kitchen.
Address: 2 Burleigh St, London WC2E 7PX
When does it re-open? 17 September 2021 for soft launch until 18 October
Russell Norman and ex-Ivy chef Gary Lee take over
Address: First Floor 3 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden
Opening Date: Beginning of September.
Mark Greenaway is very excited to announce his new upscale restaurant, set in the heart of Covent Garden, Pivot.
Address: 323 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AA
Opening Date: 18 September 2021
Tonkotsu is growing again - one of London's most popular ramen restaurants will be opening their first North London restaurant since launching nearly 10 years ago
PERGOLA PADDINGTON'S OKTOBERFEST BEER HALL
Address: Paddington Central - Sheldon Square
Opening Date: 18 September - 31 October 2021
There's an alfresco taking over this autumn as Pergola Paddington will be starting off the Oktoberfest festivities a little earlier. F
NEPALESE POP-UP TO CINNAMON KITCHEN
Address: 9 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YL
Opening Date: 20 September - 30 October 2021
MasterChef finalist Santosh Shah is bringing a Nepalese pop-up to Cinnamon Kitchen
Address: Unit C, 155 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street London, EC2M 3YD
Opening Date: 21 September 2021
It must be a good sign that the City is bouncing back into action, when you hear about a large new bar and dining room getting ready to open.
Address: The Park Tower Knightsbridge, 101 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RN
Opening Date: 23 September 2021
The briefly famous chef Nusret Gökçe aka "Salt Bae" with his steak salt spreading antics comes to London. Expect expensive cuts of meat (as much as £250), theatrically-served food and instagrammable experiences. Enjoy
Address: Units 1-28, Echo Building, London E15 2SJ
When does it open? 24 September 2021
Throughout summer, Hackney Bridge has been entertaining in its courtyard - but now it's heading inside as the indoor dining hall, Hackney Bridge Kitchens, is finally getting ready to launch.
MANTHAN
Address: 49 Maddox St, London W1S 2PQ
Opening Date: 25 September 2021
Rohit Ghai returns to Mayfair Following up on his previous successes at Gymkhana and Jamavar, Rohit Ghai is back in Mayfair with his latest restaurant. Expect a menu which draws on both his childhood and career, with a focus on contemporary Indian sharing plates.
Address: Westfield Stratford
Opening Date: 27 September 2021
The Big Opening of Westfield Stratford. Big Easy is excited to announce a brand-new opening in London this September. Introducing their latest, smoking hot ...
GALVIN BAR & GRILL
Address: Kimpton Fitzroy 1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury London WC1B 5BE
Opening Date 27 September 2021
There's a changing of the guard at the Kimpton Fitzroy hotel on Russell Square as hotel restaurant experts the Galvin Brothers get ready to take over the space where Neptune was.
Address: Cain’s Islington Square development, Islington Square’s South Arcade
Opening Date: 28th September 2021
Prezzo has chosen Islington Square as the location for its first new Italian restaurant since 2018.
LA NONNA
Address: Unit 7, Market Row, Brixton Village, London SW9 8LB
Opening Date: 29 September 2021 (soft launch for first week)
Soft Launch Offer: 25% off food for the first week.
Having built up a fanbase of South Londoners who love their fresh pasta at Flat Iron Square, La Nonna are sharing the love and opening a second place south of the river. This time, though, it's going to be a proper bricks and mortar affair in Brixton Village.
Having built up a fanbase of South Londoners who love their fresh pasta at Flat Iron Square, La Nonna are sharing the love and opening a second place south of the river. This time, though, it's going to be a proper bricks and mortar affair in Brixton Village.
Run by Roman-born chef Daniele Pino, the menu features Daniele's modern takes on his family's favourite pasta dishes including Roman Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe and Creamy Mushroom and Truffle - all of which are made with pasta made fresh on-site daily.
The drinks list at Brixton will be a mix of natural and organic wines with an, as you'd expect, focus on Italian producers.
If you want to grab and go, the deli side of things here will be a useful place to know about. It'll sell La Nonna's DIY fresh pasta kits alongside guanciale, Pecorino Romano DOP, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and other Italian cheeses and cured meats.
Address: 13 Ganton St, London W1F 9PP
Opening Date: 29 September 2021
Mamma Pastrama is a modern pastrami shop hitting Carnaby from Jay Morjaria and Vagabond
Pastrami lovers are going to be in seventh heaven when a new sandwich shop in Carnaby opens. Mamma Pastrama is the brainchild of chef Jay Morjaria (whose food we loved at JAE) and Vagabond co-founders Stephen Finch and Kieran Sherlock. They say they've taken on the classic American sarnie and given it an reboot.
It's all down to chef Jay's cured meats. He's come up with a secret process combining a blend of proprietary spices and a unique ‘rub’ technique. So while there will be classic pastrami sandwiches available there'll also be some rather different London takes on the NYC dish.
And if you really want to go all out on the pastrami experience order the Pastrami Popcorn, Smoked Pastrami Sausage with Curry Ketchup or the Mamma’s Poutine with Pastrami Bits and Pastrami Burnt Ends. To go with all that there'll be craft beers from Bethnal Green’s BOXCAR brewery, soft drinks from East London’s Square Root and coffee from Origin Coffee Roasters
Breakfasts sound like the kind to kickstart the hardest of days with all day fry up or a corned beef pastrami hash and eggs among other dishes.
You'll find it on Ganton Street, right next door to Pastaio.
Address: 199-206 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7BD
Opening Date: 29 September 2021
La Cave is Hoxton Holborn's new underground wine bar and chef's residency spot
Taking over the space where Chicken Shop used to be, in the basement of the Hoxton Holborn hotel, is La Cave. Described as both a wine bar, pop-up space and incubator kitchen it'll see a variety of chefs and restaurants taking over the space.
First up is Cantina Valentina from former Pachamama chef Adam Rawson. His menu will feature a range of dishes inspired by Peru - think dishes like:
- Lima bean humous served with fried plantain.
- Scallop ceviche with maiz morado, pink peppercorn and coconut
- Pollo a la Brasa with salsa criolla, aji Amarillo mustard and achiote mayo
As for the wine, they're promising "London’s largest selection of natural bubbles" alongside snacks like charcuterie from Crown & Queue and cheese from Tottenham's Wildes Cheese.
Where is it? Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
When? 29 September 2021
The Connaught launches The Red Room, its first new bar in a decade
Optimism seems to be in the air if you consider the number of new bar openings in the Mayfair/Marylebone area. Anywhere that doesn’t require driving to/petrol will certainly hit the spot this week, at least. Hot on the heels of its sister hotel’s new bar, Claridge’s The Painter’s Room Bar, which we recently visited, we bring you exciting news of The Red Room, the newest bar at The Connaught.
You probably suspect the name of the bar has something to do with the colour scheme, but it goes a little deeper than the décor. It’s partly a nod to the collection of red artworks displayed inside by four female creators: Louise Bourgeois, Jenny Holzer, Ti-a Thuy Nguyen and Trina McKillen.
Designed by Bryan O’Sullivan, The Red Room has room for 50 and is entered via a velvet-curtained doorway from the Connaught’s Champagne Room (although we're not entirely sure where that is ourselves). Apart from the artwork, you’ll definitely spot the shiny pink onyx bar and the Italian marble fireplace, which is flanked by two huge vibrant glass panels in red and blue (designed by Brian Clarke). The furniture evokes an eclectic sitting-room vibe, complete with an ombre scarlet snug beneath the glow of a massive antique pendant lamp.
But if art is not your thing, well, as luck would have it, the bar also has a collection of the world’s best red wines to tempt you in. Listen to vintage Italian and French music while perusing the wine list where you can try many rare wines by the glass. In fact, The Connaught has over 3,000 different labels and 30,000 bottles to choose from, so you may need some time to make up your mind
Address: 36-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BN
Opening Date: 30 September 2021
Trattoria Brutto is Russell Norman's next restaurant, which is all about Tuscany
Since leaving the Polpo group, Russell Norman has been busy writing but we've all been wondering when he would make his return to restaurants. Well now we know - he's opening Trattoria Brutto. That comes from the phrase "brutto ma buono" meaning Ugly but good.
It'll be taking over a space with a bit of history. Brutto will be opening in Farringdon - taken over what was once the Hix Oyster and Chop House (and also just around the corner from the ex Polpo Smithfield location).
If you're unfamiliar with the restaurateur, he was the driving force behind the Polpo group of restaurants. The original in Soho was a proper game-changer for the market, focused on a no-reservation pack-em-in ethos and a menu of small Italian plates. The restaurant was an instant hit and London's not-so-brief "encounter" with restaurant queues had begun. Huge spin-off hits Spuntino and Polpetto arrived soon after.
The restaurant is billed as a "tribute to the dining rooms of urban Tuscany" with Florence and Siena the big focus. We can also look forward to "the warm amber glow of low wattage bulbs and candlelight" but hopefully we won't have to get out the "torch of shame" to read the menu as in Spuntino.
In charge of the kitchen is Oliver Diver, who started out at the Soho Polpo, then Wild Honey, Chiltern Firehouse, a brief stop in Melbourne and most recently senior sous at Allegra. He'll be touring Florence with Russell for menu inspiration, but dishes planned so far include vitello tonnato, panzanella, chicken liver toasts, lamb chops al cartoccio and pappardelle with wild boar. Alongside that will be peposo (beef stew), rosemary flatbread with broad bean purée, lampredotto (spicy tripe in a crusty panino) and salads made tableside from Natoora produce. Apparently, Russell himself will be in the kitchen from time to time too.
It'll be an all-day restaurant, starting with coffee and pastries at 8am, with lunchtime sandwiches too. And as for the wine list, we're told we can expect "old-world European wines combining cult classics with smaller producers will total 100 labels, including some larger formats and rare vintages."
It'll definitely be one of the top openings this Autumn.
Russell Norman's comeback
Address: 36-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BN
Polpo founder Russell Norman is getting ready to open his next restaurant. It'll be an Italian restaurant with a "Tuscan accent”.
He changed the restaurant game with Polpo (distressed interiors, small plates, no ressies) and now almost a year since leaving the group he co-founded, Russell Norman is back with Trattoria Brutto. Taking over the old Hix Oyster and Chophouse in Smithfield, Brutto will be Tuscan-inspired and there’ll be no small plates. The name of the restaurant comes from the Italian saying ‘brutto ma buono’ , which translates to ‘ugly but good’, so it’s going to be hearty and honest.
He’s got Oliver Diver (who started out at Polpo in Soho before working at Wild Honey, Chiltern Firehouse and Allegra) to head up the kitchen and the menu is set to include dishes like panzanella, vitello tonnato, pappardelle with wild boar, lamb chops al cartoccio, beef stew, rosemary flatbread with broad bean puree, and chicken liver toasts. And if you’re an early bird, you’ll be able to get pastries, coffee and ‘breakfast prosecco’ from 8am. This is going to be a big opening so watch this space…
Address: 1-2 Lower Dock Walk, Docklands London E16 2GT
Opening Date: Late September 2021
Last year we reported on the story of Cafe Spice Namasté which 'celebrated' its 25th anniversary by having to move from its home on Prescot Street in Spitalfields.
Well, the good news is that Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala have now found a new home for their restaurant. They've stuck with East London and are preparing to open in Docklands.
They've been serving up dosas on the docks at the Royal Albert Wharf since the end of lockdown in April. But now they're preparing to reopen the restaurant itself, bolstered by securing almost £50k in a crowdfunding push by customers.
"As part of the Royal Docks, the wharf we’ll soon be calling home symbolises not just the great mercantile history of a global city, but its capacity for regeneration and renewal. Two things we can closely identify with." they said.
"Café Spice Namasté will be part of an exciting space that in time will include an academy and yes, a reimagined version of your favourite Indian restaurant."
Address: Westgate Street, London Fields, London, E8
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
Willy’s Pies has been one of the biggest success stories to come out of lockdown. After being furloughed in the first lockdown former St John and Brat chef Will Lewis started knocking out pies and delivering them by bike from his base in Leyton. Since then he’s taken his pies across the city, selling out week on week, and now he’s taken half-time snacks up a notch by becoming the official pie supplier to Watford FC.
To make all those pies for the footy, Will has got himself a unit under the railway arches in London Fields with his flour supplier Wildfarmed Grain – he’s cooking at their 5 Nights in July pop-up event – going in on the space too. Once the wholesale side of the operation is sorted, he’s got plans to open it up for retail, with a counter selling crusty rolls, bagels, pasties, iced buns, grandma slices, Tottenham cakes, braised meat baps and more baked treats. We picked out Willy’s Pies as one to stick around in our Lockdown Awards and it seems we were right, so we’ll defo be keeping an eye on this next step.
Address: 12-14 Denman St, London W1D 7HL
Opening Date: September 2021
SOMA is the new standalone bar in Soho from Kricket
Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell will open their first bar in September. Soma will sit next door to the Kricket on Soho's Denman Street, in a site which was formerly a subterranean club and karaoke den. It will open until 3am Tuesday to Saturday with a drinks menu devised by Will Rogers, the group's head of beverages. They said: "We see Soma as the latest addition to people's Soho ‘stumblings' and we can't wait to offer the hospitality we've become known for at Kricket in a new context."
The people behind Kricket are getting ready to open something new, and quite different from before. This time it's a standalone basement bar in Soho, called SOMA, taking over the building right next door to Kricket Soho (which used to be a club and karaoke bar).
SOMA will still carry on the Indian influences that you'll see in Kricket.
There will be "Indian-accented" snacks too, like homemade crackers made using leftover rice from the restaurants, served with a yoghurt dip.
As for the look - that promises to be quite striking too. The main bar space will be dominated by a 9-metre communal steel bar in the centre of the room, seating around 23 - but with a small lounge bar off to the site too (which can be made into private rooms).
If you’re a fan of the cocktails at Kricket you’ll want to play special attention to this because the team are taking over the site next to Kricket Soho and turning into cocktail bar Soma. The bar, named after the Hindu Moon God, will be a modern take on the speakeasy, with most of the space set aside for walk-ins and a closing time of 3am. The 9-metre long stainless steel bar will take centre stage in the indigo-walled room, where the bar team will shake up drinks inspired by the Indian subcontinent.
Kricket’s Head of Beverage Will Rogers and SOMA Bar Manager Angelos Bafas, in collab with Zoe Burgess from Atelier Pip, have created a cocktail list that makes use of seasonal ingredients and spices whilst still sticking to a ‘less is more’ ethos, so you can expect drinks like Gooseberry Chaat Margarita (tequila, triple sec, homemade gooseberry cordial & chaat masala), a Coconut & Jaggery Old Fashioned (bourbon, jaggery, coconut & mace bitters) and Pickled Mooli Martini (vodka, dry vermouth, lightly pickled mooli & fennel oil). There’ll also be a snack menu featuring the likes of crackers made with leftover rice from the restaurants & yoghurt dip to keep you going as you work your way through those cocktails.
Address: Oxford Street, London
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
Somebody is opening a massive axe-throwing bar on Oxford Street
Finally! Your central-London axe-throwing needs have been met
Although human beings have been throwing things that include axes for a very long time now, it’s only in recent years that axe-throwing has for whatever reason broken out from niche woodsperson contests and emerged as a thing that normal people do for fun in bars.
It’s probably not worth dwelling on the whys or the wherefores of all this, but to simply note that it’s now so big that a £2m, 15,200 square feet axe-throwing bar is now set to open on Oxford Street in the autumn.
Boom Battle Bar is part of a rapidly growing UK-wide franchise that’s being billed as offering ‘competitive socialising’, and will supplement the main event of having its patrons hurling hatchets while quaffing craft ale with augmented reality darts, crazier golf, shuffleboards, karaoke, beer pong and indoor curling. Taking up an entire floor of 70 Oxford Street, it will be opposite the Crossrail station, meaning people from as far away as Reading should be able to chuck a few choppers before the last train home.
In essence, people can be divided into two categories: those who want to go to an axe-throwing bar, and those who would rather have an axe thrown at them than go to an axe-throwing bar. You probably know which one you fall into already. But be aware that Boom Battle Bar is a thing that is happening. You can’t stop progress! Especially when it has a big axe.
THE CANOPY BY HILTON CITY HOTEL
Address: 16 Minories East End
Opening Date: September 2021
Floraticca Rooftop Bar Canopy by Hilton Hotel to open this September in London's East End
The Floraticca Rooftop bar will open this September as part of the new 340 room Canopy by Hilton hotel, offering great cocktails and stunning views of the City skyline. The hotel also offers a variety of smaller meeting rooms and a fitness centre
The Canopy by Hilton City hotel opening in September 2021, is located within a buzzy City neighbourhood and business hub, within a mile of Tower Bridge and Spitalfields Market. The hotel offers 340 rooms, including 35 stunning Canopy Suites.
the new Canopy hotel will be adjacent to the historic Roman and medieval city walls. Guests will be able to walk to London’s electrifying East End in under 20 minutes, an area bursting with stylish boutiques and some of the city’s best nightlife, giving the area a reputation of being one of Europe’s trendiest urban neighbourhoods. Aldgate tube station is just 250 ft from the hotel entrance with the bustling Liverpool Street Station just 0.5 miles away.
A key feature of the Canopy brand is Canopy Central, the ground floor lobby designed to reflect the neighbourhood. Additional dining options will include a hotel restaurant serving fresh, healthy, and locally inspired dishes. Wi-Fi and an artisanal breakfast in Penny Squares restaurant will be included in the room rate. Guests will receive a welcome gift on arrival inspired by the City of London. The hotel will also include a fitness centre for guests to enjoy.
Their Just-Right Room has comfort covered with an open closet system, a built-in refrigerated drawer, free unlimited filtered water, high speed free Wi-Fi, 49” television and a Nespresso coffeemaker.
Locally inspired dishes are served at Penny Squares for lunch and dinner, including freshly made pizza directly from their clay oven. You can even enjoy a complimentary evening tasting of local brews, wines and spirits.
Floraticca Rooftop Bar
Yet another new addition to the rooftop bar scene, Floraticca offers dazzling views of London’s eclectic East End and some of the most inspiring views of the City with various social zones and private spaces available for groups and exclusive hire.
Their drinks enthusiasts have thoughtfully created a menu of craft cocktails inspired by the East End. Capacities for the Floraticca Rooftop bar are 75 for seated events indoors, increasing to 125 to include the roof terrace.
Not content with Penny Squares or Floraticca Rooftop, their Freedom Cafe features live music performances and DJ set on the weekends.
The meeting space, Dustan's Den, has taken influence from the outdoors and created an adaptable multi-use space for all day hires or private dining with natural light. Perfect for exclusive VIP events or an intimate dining experience. The room also includes high speed internet and the latest meeting technology equipment are available as you would expect in this new hybrid world.
Your meeting space comes with to a relaxing break out area with bean-to-cup coffee machine and filtered water available throughout the day along with event managers on site.
With a capacity of up to 50 delegates Theatre style and 40 delegates in a boardroom or banquet capacity, Canopy by Hilton offers a unique space for small to medium sized conferences and events, in a cool and contemporary setting.
More About the Minories Development…
Whitechapel has been transformed by redevelopment in recent years, with the Crossrail train line set to improve transport links, and Hilton's first UK Canopy hotel is sure to benefit. Within the £76 million Minories development in Aldgate, the 314-room Canopy by Hilton London City hotel features a rooftop bar and free WiFi with a residential and an office building alongside as well as a public garden and a new city square. The interior design draws on the legacy of the Whitechapel Gallery and the melting pot of cultures in the surrounding area.
Recent development in the area includes Altitude, a 35 storey tower and Cityscape, a residential building. The substantial Minories development, centred on a landscaped park, also includes an office building, pub and residential block.
Address: 52-53 Poland Street, London W1F 7NQ
Opening Date: September 2021
Kasa & Kin is a new Filipino cafe and restaurant in Soho from Romulo Café
The people behind Kensington's Romulo Café & Restaurant are coming to Soho for their next opening - Kasa and Kin.
This will be a combination of all-day restaurant & bar, bakery and patisserie, all centred in Filipino cuisine. At this stage, we know more about what will be happening with the pattiserie. On that menu will be pandesal bread rolls as well as pandesal donuts filled with purple yam & coconut and ensaymadas - those are pastry dough with butter and grated cheese. There will also be calamansi citrus tarts and pandan lèche flans.
In the evening, they'll have Filipino BBQ sticks, with more of that menu to come. We'll add more info as we get it.
Address: 101 Newington Green Road, London, N1 4QY
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
Hill & Szrok on Broadway Market is one of the best butchers in town and now it’s set to get even better as the team are opening a second site in Newington Green (next door to Newington Green Fruit & Veg) this autumn. The new site won’t be called Hill & Szrok (it doesn’t actually have a name yet) but owner Luca Mathiszig-Lee has said that it will keep the same ethos – working closely with suppliers and stocking whole carcasses from small and independent farmers who use low-intervention methods to rear their animals.
He’ll also be putting in a bar at some stage too, which will serve up snacks, charcuterie cured in-house, tartares, and drinks. Over in London Fields Hill & Szrok serves up a menu of seasonal small plates and cuts from the butchery, so we hope the food in N1 will be just as good.
Address: 55 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HP
Opening Date: September 2021
Santo Remedio Taqueria sees Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes return to their old Shoreditch haunt
Santo Remedio taqueria opening in Shoreditch
It's been a busy old year for Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes, the couple behind popular Mexican restaurant Santo Remedio. Fresh from having published their first book, the couple have just announced they're opening a second restaurant.
Santa Remedio Taqueria will be, as they explain, "An ode to the bustling taquerias of Mexico". The new place will offer some of the same dishes that have proved such a hit at their Bermondsey space (we're presuming the AMAZING guacamole is staying), but there will also be a "takeaway hatch serving an array of Mexican street food favourites".
The opening of the taqueria sees the pair coming full circle. Their first restaurant was in Shoreditch but was forced to close five years ago due to issues with the landlord.
"Santo Remedio is going back to its roots!" said the pair on their Instagram feed. "We can’t wait to share our corner of Great Eastern Street with you."
We'll have more info closer to the opening date.
Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes first opened Santo Remedio in Shoreditch in 2016 but they were forced to close the restaurant after five months after problems with the building. They managed to secure a permanent site in London Bridge in 2017, where Santo Remedio has been ever since, serving up some of the best Mexican food in town. Now five years after their first Shoreditch experience, the pair are bringing the restaurant back to its roots by opening a second site.
The new spot will be called Santo Remedio Taqueria, taking over the old Pod location on Great Eastern Street, will be “an ode to the bustling taquerias of Mexico”, featuring faves from the London Bridge restaurant, new specials and a takeaway hatch serving street food.
Address:
Opening Date: 2021 (TBC)
Richard Caring is bringing Scott's to Richmond
He's already had a lot of success with expanding the Ivy across the country - so iRichard Caring is getting ready to do the same with Mayfair classic seafood restaurant, Scott's.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Caring confirmed that he's getting ready to launch Scott's in Richmond. He didn't give too much away, saying only that it would take a little more from Sexy Fish than the original Scotts, “maybe with a little more sashimi, a little more fun on the river”.
Now that he's let the cat out of the bag, expect further info to follow soon. We'll update this story as soon as we know more.
Address: Soho Wharf, Clink St, London SE1 9DG
Opening Date: September 2021
Flat Iron are bringing a second restaurant to London Bridge at Clink Street
9/8/21 - updated with opening details
They already have a restaurant on nearby Tooley Street but now Flat Iron are opening a new site on nearby Clink Street (taking over from the old Gourmet Burger, just by The Clink museum).
If you've been to a Flat Iron before, you know the drill. It's all about affordable steak, centred around the flat iron cut and all using ex-dairy beef from their own farms. This restaurant will add something new from Fred Smith, Head of Beef - the short rib chilli cheeseburger special, which will only be at this restaurant for the month of the launch.
As for the restaurant itself, they'll retain as much of the Victorian architecture as they can, and the restaurant also has ceiling-high windows, so it'll be a little brighter than some of their restaurants so far.
PLANQUE
Address: 322-324 Acton Mews, Haggerston London E8 4EA
Opening Date: September 2021
Wine drinkers clubhouse. Taking over two railway arches in Haggerston, Planque will have a wine bar, restaurant, members' club and store, with a key focus on natural and low intervention wines.
Fatt Pundit Covent Garden
Address: 6 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7NA
Opening Date: 27 September 2021
Indo-Chinese cuisine
Best news of the year for us (as we are major fans) is that the mind-blowing Indo-Chinese restaurant, Fatt Pundit, is opening in Covent Garden, after a successful opening in Soho two years ago.
Featuring some of their most popular dishes, like Crackling Spinach and Lollipop chicken, the menu is designed by mastermind Head Chef Huzefa Sajawal. We cannot rave enough about how amazing his menu is!
The restaurant will have two bars and cocktails are a memorable experience as well. Definitely definitely try the Guava Chilli Sour! You’re welcome!
Address: 1 Cathedral Street, Borough Market, London, SE1 1TL
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
It's been 33 years since Mildreds first opened its doors in Soho, in a flash transforming London's vegetarian restaurant scene. Now they're getting ready to open their first brand new restaurant in over three decades.
Mallow is going to be a totally new restaurant from the team in Borough Market. Located in a building right opposite Southwark Cathedral, it's being touted as "an extension of the market" by which we deduce that much or all of the menu will use the lovely plant produce being sold by traders there.
The plant-based restaurant will make sure that it produces limited waste, leaving a positive impact on the environment. There's not much news on what exactly they'll be serving up, but we're told to expect small and large plates alongside plant-based burgers and desserts.
Address: 12 George Street, Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf London E14 9QG
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
Fresh Crafted Pasta is opening in Canary Wharf's
Emilia's Crafted pasta gets ready to open its third restaurant, this time in the new Canary Wharf development Wood Wharf. Expect their much-loved fresh pasta dishes, new snacks, a bar with tabletop games and lots more...
Emilia's Crafted Pasta has picked up plenty of fans in both its St Katharine Docks and Aldgate restaurants and now it's moving even further east to Canary Wharf. They'll be opening at Wood Wharf, the new development where there's also going to be a new Hawksmoor.
Emilia's, founded by Andrew Macleod, is all about pasta. That pasta is made fresh in-house every day and the team work closely with hand-picked suppliers for all their produce. Their menu in their restaurants features dishes like Truffled cacio e pepe, 4-hour slow-cooked béchamel bolognese, homemade pistachio and basil pesto with sautéed cherry tomatoes and more. There will also be brand new dishes for Wood Wharf, including snacks like homemade parmesan crisps made with 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano DOP.
Drinks-wise, they'll have a cocktail menu based on locally-sourced fresh fruits mixed with Italian spirits.
This will be their largest restaurant yet - seating 70 inside and 30 outside - and aims to look like the kind of trattoria you'd find in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Sustainability will be a focus - and that extends to Wood Wharf in general which has an aim to be a sustainable 24/7 development. The pasta making will be upfront and centre, with a dedicated window into the chefs in action.
We're also liking the sound of the custom table bocce that they've planted in the bar - the idea of playing table games in a bar again really appeals to us.
Address: The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
Opening Date: September 2021
They've only just launched in Spitalfields in July, but huge udon chain Marugame Udon were never going to stop there. Already, they're gearing up to launch their second London restaurant, this time at the O2.
It's a big old restaurant too, seating 150, and the kitchen where they make the noodles will be in full view to all - even if you're just passing by. All in all, very handy if you're back visiting the O2 for live events again.
Address: 100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London E1 6JQ
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
London's Ace Hotel didn't manage to last the pandemic, with confirmation that it had closed permanently back in September. But just because Ace has gone doesn't mean that there won't be a hotel there. Instead - One Hundred Shoreditch will be opening in the space this autumn.
It comes from the group who also own the swanky Pulitzer Amsterdam and London's Sea Containers
Address: 12 New Quebec St, Marylebone, London W1H 7RP
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
After previewing the restaurant in a residency at Brown's, chef Daisuke Hayashi is opening Roketsu in Marylebone. His new restaurant will be all about Japanese Kaiseki dining. Kaiseki in Marylebone
Address: 52 Stratton Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8LN
Opening Date: Autumn 2021
By Carlo Scotto -Ex chef-patron of Xier is moving to Mayfair with a new restaurant where the emphasis will continue to be on his tasting menus.
Carlo Scotto, previously head chef at Xier, is swapping Marylebone for Mayfair this September to open a new restaurant Amethyst. The 24-cover spot will serve up three- and four-course menus at lunchtime before switching to six- and 15-course tasting menus at dinner. And if you’ve been missing out on cooking yourself even after a year of lockdown, you can get involved and actually prepare a dish here (under Carlo’s watchful eye of course) as part of Amethyst’s chef’s table experience, which is designed to take you behind the scenes of a high-end kitchen. Watch out MasterChef. That’s about all we know about Amethyst so far but we’re expecting the same unusual flavour combos and artistic flair Carlo cooked with at Xier.
Address: 1 George Street, Richmond, London TW9 1JY
Opening Date: September 2021
Chocolate store
FOUR LEGS PUB IN FINSBURY PARK
Address: 52 St Thomas’s Road, London N4 2QW
Opening Date: September 2021
Four Legs are turning The Auld Triangle in Finsbury Park into The Plimsoll
Four Legs are opening their own pub in Finsbury Park
After two years building up a stellar rep for their burger and other dishes at Islington's The Compton Arms, the team at Four Legs have bought their own boozer in Finsbury Park.
Touted as one of the best burger purveyors in London, the folks at Four Legs are hoping that their new home in Finsbury Park will showcase a much wider repertoire of food.
The team built up quite the reputation during their two years at The Compton Arms in Islington. Now they're hoping The Plimsoll, their new pub, will focus on food in the weekdays, while "weekends will be for the drinkers and pub lovers."
The pub's well known by Arsenal supporters as it's on the route from Finsbury Park station to the stadium. And while it was most recently an Irish pub, the renaming to The Plimsoll takes it back to its roots - it was opened in the Victorian era as The Plimsoll Arms. The pub sits on the corner of St Thomas's Road and Plimsoll Road (which - should you care to know, isn't named for the footwear but the former resident of the road who came up with the nautical Plimsoll Line).
Although they're the first to say "It’s a proper boozer and we intend to leave it that way" they do want to make some changes. To help fund the transformation of the pub, they're launching a Kickstarter which, among other things, will create space the kitchen team can use for curing meats, making cheeses and brewing booze.
For beer they're promising a mix of some new additions with what the regulars expect along with "very good Guinness". Food wise you'll be able to get half a dozen oysters to go with that pint, they'll have seafood from day boats, and use meat from smaller farms. But don't worry, there will be always be a cheeseburger on the menu.
four legs the plimsoll finsbury park
FKABAM/ BLACK AXE MANGAL
Address: 156 Canonbury Rd, London N1 2UP
Opening Date: 2021 - date TBC
bamsquid
It's been closed since the very first lockdown, but the time is nearly upon us for the return of Black Axe Mangal - kind of.
Lee Tiernan's Islington restaurant has been a big hit since day one and has been lauded by many (including us) as one of London's very best places to eat. Their squid-ink flatbread is among one of our favourite dishes in London and we also think that the grilled hispi with fermented shrimp butter is one of the very best ways to eat your greens in London.
The restaurant has made the odd reappearance in the past year or so - first as a pie and then as a fully-fledged meal kit. But the reopening is the main thing everyone's been looking forward to. Details are slim on the ground right now - but we do know that there will be changes afoot. In Prince fashion, they've confirmed to us that the restaurant (as teased on Instagram) will indeed be called FKABAM - aka the restaurant Formerly Known as Black Axe Mangal.
That's all we know right now - but bear with us as we'll be updating this page with lots more info in the run-up to the launch...
Hail Satan: heavy metal meat freaks are re-opening finally
The high priests of grilling return
The only restaurant in London with floorboards covered in phallic imagery and an OTT oven painted with images from cult 1979 movie The Warriors (it was rock'n'roll legends KISS before that), Black Axe Mangal managed to a meld a heavy metal aesthetic with some seriously decent meat cooking and massive flavours from chef owner Lee Tiernan – an acolyte of St John – ever since opening in Islington in 2015.
But aside from a handful of exceptional meal kits featuring their famous Lamb Offal Flatbread, Mapo Tofu and Grilled Hispi Cabbage with Fermented Shrimp Butter & Seaweed, BAM was relatively quiet during lockdown, refraining from re-opening or from pivoting to takeaway sandwiches. In fact, plenty of us thought that they might not be coming back at all. Until now.
This week an announcement was made via Black Axe Mangal’s Instagram account explaining that the Highbury Corner heroes would soon be returning soon. Thank goodness.
Information is currently scant, but it looks like the restaurant may well be coming back under a different name, after the post said they were launching as the ‘restaurant formerly known as Black Axe Mangal’. Either way, we’re here for it.
They’re currently on the hunt for front of house staff, chefs and kitchen porters, so things are happening. They’re definitely happening. Thought with no opening date listed, we’ll be keeping our ears open and letting you know as soon as we hear more news.
If you can’t wait, then get your hands on Lee Tiernan’s Black Axe Mangal cookbook, which tells you how to whip up some Pig's Cheek and Prune Doughnuts, Squid Ink Flatbreads with Smoked Cod’s Roe and Shrimp-encrusted Pigs' Tails from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Address: Bedale Street, Borough Market London, SE1 9AL
When does it open? Open now, Tuesday - Saturday, 11am to 5pm (until 6pm on Friday)
BOB's Lobster have opened their Little Lobster Bar at Borough Market
Bob's Lobster have been around the back of London Bridge station for a few years - but now they've teamed up with Bedales of Borough to launch the Little Lobster Bar.
Their 1957 Vintage VW split screen converted Campervan has been parked in Borough Market for a while now, but for the winter they've brought it under cover, added seating and created a bar that's all about seafood and Champagne. To go alongside that will be Champagne from Laurent-Perrier, Prosecco, Aperol Spritzes, frozen margaritas and more. So if you find yourself needing a lobster and Champagne hit while shopping in the market, this place is now waiting for you.
LA BRASSERIA
Address: 290 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill London W11 2PS
Opening Date: Open now
Italian luxe trattoria
You may have been busy this summer visiting old London restaurant haunts, making up for lost dining time during lockdown. While it’s been a mixed bag of emotions seeing who’s still standing and who is still sadly boarded up, the inspirational openings keep coming. We’re happy to see that lovers of Italian food can still get their fix at Marylebone’s La Brasseria Milanese, which first opened back in May 2018. Now the owners, third-generation brothers Andrea and Alberto Fraquelli, are bringing Marylebone Village’s best Italian coffee (such is the rumour) and homemade pasta to a second location, over in Notting Hill.
Opening on the former site of All Saints fashion store on Westbourne Grove, La Brasseria Notting Hill intends to woo West London with aperitivi, breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in proper Italian trattoria style. They’ve been posting tantalising previews of the handcrafted restaurant décor from Pictalab Milano for weeks now, so you can visually transport yourself (and your favourite canine; they’re very pet-friendly) to La Dolce Vita while you eat.
We expect the weekend brunches to be big in this location too, but there are dedicated menus for various occasions (make sure you save room for the Dolci, with plenty of Italian specialities, as well as gelatos and Italian cheeses). On the drinks front, you can spoil yourself with six different kinds of Negronis or opt for the mainly Italian wine list.
Jinli Mornington Crescent
Where is it? 14/16 Camden High Street, London NW1 0JH
When? Open now
How to book: Call 0203 695 6693
Find out more: Visit their website
LAHPET
Covent garden
Acre
Queens park
Nammos
Knightsbridge
Les 2 Garcons
Where is it? 143b Crouch Hill, Crouch End, London N8 9QH
When? Open now.
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