James Cochran will open his new restaurant 1251 in Islington this month

The Staff Canteen

Following his departure from both James Cochran N1 and E3, James has announced that his new restaurant 1251 will be opening its doors on the August 28th 2018 in Islington.

James left his previous restaurant - James Cochran N1 in Angel Central in late 2017 after just four months of trading. The talented chef has previously worked at The Ledbury and then subsequently worked at Brett Graham’s gastropub The Harwood Arms in Fulham.

James then went on to work on a series of pop-up restaurants which included Camberwell Love, Hackney’s Restaurant Fix and B.Y.O.C. It was this pop-up that led James to open James Cochran EC3, of which he parted company with back in April and but the restaurant is still trading under the same name.

His new restaurant will be located at 107 Upper Street (which was previously the site of Chinese Laundry) in Islington and will seat 48 people, spread across two floors. Diners can choose from an 'a la carte' or a tasting menu for both lunch and dinner with snacks being served throughout the day.

James will be utilising ingredients and local produce from his home country of Kent where he grew up, but his menu for 1251 will be strongly influenced by techniques and ingredients from Asia and it will also take inspiration from James’ Scottish and West Indian heritage.

Diners can expect a wide variety of dishes such as the ‘Goat Sharing Board with Black Eyed Pea Dahl, Roti, Scotch Bonnet Jam and Pineapple’ as well as the likes of ‘Jerk-Spiced Monkfish with Iceberg Lettuce, Watermelon and Coriander’.

James is also competing in this year's Great British Menu and will be on  BBC2 at the end of August. 

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 14th August 2018

James Cochran will open his new restaurant 1251 in Islington this month