Sadly, there have been plenty of high-profile restaurant closures in recent months, notably L’Ortolan and Tom Brown'sCornerstone – but here we take a look at some of the venues set to open, or reopen, their doors in the coming weeks.
JASON ATHERTON, SAEL
Renowned chef Jason Atherton has been growing the portfolio under his The Social Company umbrella, with sites across the world.
London has come back into focus recently, with Sael set to open its doors on September 16th.
Jason’s Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social in Mayfair closed earlier this year, having opened in 2011, becoming his signature restaurant in what was his first solo venture, following work in the Gordon Ramsay group.
It reopened as a pop-up called Mary’s less than a month later, as part of a major shake-up of Jason’s operations.
The latest venture now joining that list is Sael, described as a modern British brasserie, situated on the former Aquavit sit in St James’s Market.
Discussing Sael, Jason said: “Our concept is a tribute to iconic British culture, offering a dining experience that honours the essence of our heritage.”
In charge of the kitchen will be Dale Bainbridge, most recently head chef at Pollen Street Social. The menu includes the popular Marmite English custard tart, as well as a ‘100-layer Hereford snail and ox cheek lasagne’.
The venue also contains an upstairs space, described as “a swanky speakeasy where art meets attitude”, with a live DJ on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Jason Atherton is further expanding his portfolio
DAVID THOMPSON, LONG CHIM
Australian chef David Thompson is returning to London, looking to capitalise on the booming Thai food scene in the capital.
Long Chim will be a residency opening on the ground floor of Hovarda in Soho. It is a return to London for David, who formerly ran Michelin-starred Nahm, until it closed in 2012. It was the first Thai restaurant in the world to win a Michelin star, in 2002.
Long Chim is set to be a more casual offering, with head chef Pae Jipromma arriving from Aksorn in Bangkok, who are part of the same group.
David said: "Long Chim is intended to be fun, 'sanuk' as they would say in Thailand, with food and drink that everyone loves.
"Our menu has all the dishes that Thais miss the most when away from home.”
GREG CLARKE, EL BOLILLO
While Jason Atherton has many irons in the fire, for Greg Clarke, he is gearing up for his debut solo venture.
Using the tagline “a fresh approach to the bold flavours of Mexico City”, Greg and partner Matty Salvetti are launching El Bolillo in Hove.
Set to open on Church Road on September 21st, Greg will take his Michelin-starred background and put it into his first restaurant.
Wiltshire-born Greg started out at Gleneagles as a teenager, going on to work under Martin Wishart in Edinburgh, before then moving to London and learning under Tom Aikens.
Time at The Ledbury, development chef under Daniel Clifford at Midsummer House, and Norway’s three Michelin-starred Maaemo followed, before moving into some private work for celebrity clients and then taking up a residency at West Sussex’s The Pass in 2021.
El Bolillo is set to bring “food that has all the minimalistic swagger of a fine dining restaurant, but with flavours that boast your favourite late night guilty pleasure”.
Greg Clarke is opening a Mexican restaurant in Hove
ENDO KAZUTOSHI, ENDO AT THE ROTUNDA
Third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutoshi is set to return to the eighth floor of the Television Centre in Wood Lane, London from September 17th.
The Michelin-starred establishment closed for refurbishment earlier this year, which also allowed Endo a period of culinary reflection.
But now he is ready to return, with a new concept of onkochisin – a way of looking into the future through the perspective of the past.
The experience will be informed by recipes and techniques derived from Endo’s grandfather.
Endo said: “The Rotunda is my home and I want my guests to have an unforgettable experience that feels authentic to my culture and true reflection of our imagination. This space grows alongside me as a chef and as a person. I look forward to welcoming the public with an open heart.”
The omakase experience, where the chef decides which dishes to serve, will revolve around a seasonally-driven 18 course menu, combining local British produce and the best of Cornish and Spanish seafood, along with rice, wasabi and soy sauce from Endo’s trusted Japanese suppliers.
The site of the former Carters of Moseley is set to reopen in its new guise Satori later this month.
Brad Carter opted to close down the Michelin-starred restaurant last year, to relocate.
From mid-September, Birmingham will instead get a fine dining Japanese restaurant named Satori.
‘Satori’ is a Japanese Buddhist term meaning enlightenment and awakening, something new tenant Sharath Sundar is looking to provide his guests.
He feels there is a gap in the market for the cuisine in Birmingham while the restaurant, said to be the first of its kind in the city, will also feature a cocktail lounge.
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