Twelve floors up, Skylounge is one of the sexiest spots to sip and savour a cocktail or three in the City. Secreted away atop the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, the sweeping, 180-degree vistas afforded by Skylounge – the gleaming shape of the Shard shimmering in the skyline – has made it as much of a favourite for date-nighters as it is cocktailers. Raise a glass and toast to the top.
Story on Tooley Street is the first restaurant from ex-Noma chef Tom Sellers, with a focus on inventive dishes and skilled kitchen alchemy. To be housed in a disused toilet block near London Bridge, Story will open in February 2013 and follows on from Foreword – Tom’s page-turning pop-up last year, which sold out in an hour and filled as many reservations as it did column inches.
With William Drabble at the helm, Seven Park Place was awarded a Michelin star and four AA Rosettes only one year after opening. The bijou dining room is an intimate and chic backdrop for impressive, contemporary French cuisine which combines the very best seasonal British ingredients with William’s skill and creativity for a truly memorable dining experience. Signature dishes include the poached native lobster tail with cauliflower purée and lobster butter, whilst a reasonably priced lunch menu offers fine-dining at a snip of the price.
Perfectly located on a hidden cul-de-sac close to Mayfair and Piccadilly, St James Hotel & Club is a luxurious retreat set in an intimate Victorian townhouse. The five-star boutique hotel offers understated contemporary style, classical elegance and a long tradition of offering the highest standards of hospitality and service. The 60 bedrooms and suites, some with their own private balconies and terraces with magnificent views over London, boast stylish and sleek interiors, and along with public spaces are adorned with an extensive collection of 20th century paintings. The hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant Seven Park Place is headed up by renowned British chef William Drabble, whilst the laid-back William’s Bar and Bistro offers a menu of classic dishes and afternoon tea.
One of the first restaurants to rewrite the rule book around Indian cuisine in Britain, the Cinnamon Club is an award-winning, contemporary restaurant in the classic setting of a former library in Westminster, boasting inspired and imaginative menus from Vivek Singh, taking traditional recipes and giving them a contemporary twist.
The Cinnamon Club’s City of London outpost, the Liverpool Street venue is located in the former offices of the historic East India Company in the landmark Devonshire Square development and presents Vivek Singh’s modern Indian cuisine in a more relaxed, contemporary offering with a standalone cocktail bar, Anise, and a good-sized al fresco space.
Headed up by Chef Patron Mark Poynton, multi-award winning Alimentum is one of the finest restaurants in Cambridge and a byword for smart-casual dining in the area. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in October 2012 and holds 3 AA Rosettes.
Combining seasonal British ingredients with his natural flair, expertise and passion, Mark ensures diners enjoy a truly memorable experience. Famed for its superb value, Alimentum is one of the most affordable fine dining restaurants in the UK. The restaurant’s stylish, contemporary interior is relaxed and informal yet sophisticated, matched by welcoming service, while the entrance cocktail bar is a vibrant setting for a pre-dinner drink or post-work cocktail.
Cinnamon Soho is the third restaurant from Vivek Singh of The Cinnamon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen. Located just a stone’s throw from the cobbles of Carnaby Street, Cinnamon Soho is open for lunch, dinner and drinks, combining Singh’s signature modern Indian cuisine with a nod to British favourites. Dishes getting food fiends hot under the collar include a range of Indian-inspired ‘balls’ — such as Bangla-Scotch Egg and Vegetable Shikampur — and a collection of Brit-style pies, such as Roganjosh Shepherd’s Pie and Keralan Seafood Pie. The cocktail list, meanwhile, is just as inventive with cool concoctions such as ‘Burning With Passion’ — made from vodka over proof rum, orange juice, passionfruit and strawberry purée, dusted with cinnamon and served flaming.
After only a year of opening in Autumn 2011, Alyn Williams deservedly gained a Michelin star at The Westbury Hotel, Mayfair. Having worked as head chef with Marcus Wareing for many years, he embarked on his own venture, serving up modern European cuisine in one of London’s most beautiful dining rooms. Together with the restaurant’s charming GM Giancarlo Princigalli, they combine flawless cooking with precise but friendly service.
Giraffe’s energetic and bustling group of restaurants embodies a truly global fusion of food. Now with more than 45 venues (including airports) around the country, the family-friendly restaurants are bold, bright and brimming with personality, with classic dishes from Greece, Mexico, the UK, Portugal, Thailand and a host of other countries, with plenty of fresh, healthy produce for the little ones.
The restaurant that rewrote the book on contemporary Italian dining continues to bring a taste of La Dolce Vita with its stylish and colourful caffes and restaurants, now with nearly 50 sites. Classic antipasti, pasta and meat dishes made from produce imported especially from each gastronomic region of the mother country articulate the dedication to authenticity present, from breakfast to to delicious picnics to take away and sit-down dinners.
Ever since the first YO! Sushi opened in 1997, complete with conveyor belt and speaking robot bartenders, it redefined perceptions of Japanese cuisine and culture. Since then, it has continued to break boundaries – not just in making raw fish an acceptable and popular dining experience in the UK, but developing a fantastically strong and quirky brand identity. YO! Sushi now operates more than 50 restaurants, each with their own distinct identity, united by that famous conveyor belt.
Roche Communications was retained by YO! Sushi for five years in the brand’s early days – responsible for all marketing, PR, design, print and sales promotion. YO! Sushi recently returned to the fold with Roche, once again responsible for all public relations and profile building.
Tom and Ed Martin’s flagship site occupies an enviable location on Sloane Square. Named after pioneering naturalist Sir Hans Sloane and with its interior decorated with illustrations from his journals, The Botanist’s draws on influences from far and wide across its breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner menus. As ever with the Martin brothers, the venue articulates their faithfulness to the finest, carefully sourced ingredients. All elements combine to create their most sophisticated site yet, though it still manages to remain an informal space.
www.thebotanistonsloanesquare.com
With a sweeping riverside view, The Gun is Tom and Ed Martin’s Docklands outpost. At the mouth of West India Dock, and allegedly home to Lord Nelson’s secret assignations with lover Lady Hamilton, the brothers emphasise high quality British cuisine, with much sourced from nearby Billingsgate Fish Market, while A Grehla, its fully equipped outdoor space with bar and charcoal barbecue, is the perfect spot for al fresco, summery dining.
Young’s is a brewer with heritage that stretches back centuries, but it’s also a brand that moves with the times, and nowhere is that more evident than in the new breed of quality pubs it is launching and its modern take on the traditional coaching inn, The Alma Hotel. A new emphasis on quality – from design, to the ingredients sourced by its chefs, and service – is ensuring this new generation of pubs is leading by example.
A destination French restaurant in an iconic setting in Covent Garden, Clos Maggiore is regarded as a hidden gem, and described as London’s most romantic restaurant by Harden’s guides, and echoes the romance of Provence with beautiful, simple dishes and an award-winning wine list.
Drake & Morgan’s Canary Wharf outpost occupies an impressive position in the Park Pavilion development. The Parlour bar and kitchen is a glamorous new destination venue with style, substance and a seasonally tempting menu, open from breakfast to dinner and boasting an innovative menu that includes a range of sharing boards, wine flights and skinny cocktails for connoisseurs that want to cut the calories.
With a stunning bar, two cocktail lounges, a contemporary English kitchen complete with chef’s table and a quintessentially British delicatessen, Drake & Morgan’s Gresham Street location in the City of London venue boasts superfood boards, a signature seafood ‘vault’ and traditional mains including pies, with a range of sharing punches and a retro cocktail trolley encapsulating a quirky approach to drinks.
The first venue from nascent bar and dining company Drake & Morgan, The Refinery provides Southwark socialites with something special. Located in the landmark Blue Fin building on Southwark Street, itself a symbol of the regeneration of Bankside area behind the Tate Modern, The Refinery sees locals enjoying innovative cocktails, global wines and an impressive menu, emphasising provenance and organic ingredients, in a truly multi-faceted venue.
For their second Chelsea outpost, Tom and Ed Martin have restored a Victorian boozer to its former glory, exposing and enhancing many authentic features, creating a refined pub and dining area and rebuilding an original billiards room. Food has been refocused on what this country does best, combined with some contemporary and deft additions, accompanied by a strong international wine list, a carefully selected selection of cocktails and some leading cask ales.
A sparkling gem at the heart of London’s jewellery quarter in Hatton Garden, Tom and Ed Martin have returned what had become a rough diamond to its 19th century roots with a loving renovation and a name that plays on its location. Perfect for a pie and a pint, the Hat and Tun proudly reclaims classic London snacks such as salt beef and potted shrimps alongside some of the finest brews from across Britain, Ireland and beyond.
Tom and Ed Martin’s light and airy Clerkenwell pub has an impressive list of international draught and bottled beers and worldly wines, and is a popular location for weekend brunches. And there’s a cosy cocktail den below stairs, offering innovative twists on some classic drinks.
Bringing power to the patty, Giraffe Burgers offers a fresh and friendly new approach to burgers that’s anything but fast food. Choose from British beef or ground turkey patties or grilled chicken breast; whether you have it ‘LA’-style, ‘rodeo’ or ‘topless’, build your burger just the way you like it. Giraffe Burgers doesn’t take itself too seriously – it’s a place to hang out, have fun and make the space your own.
A staple on the fashionable King’s Road for nearly 20 years, The Big Easy Barbecue and Crabshack is a celebration of Southern hospitality, with a mouthwatering array of steaks, ribs, fried chicken, crab and lobster dishes available, and an award-winning wine list, bespoke Southern-influenced cocktails and pitchers of homemade lemonade. From its Big Pig Gig to its annual Lobster Festival, this is soul-filled authentic American fare.
In an area once famed for its concentration of impoverished hacks, aspiring poets and literary satire, Tom and Ed Martin have opened their latest venue in the City, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms.
Located on the corner of Milton Street (formerly known as Grub Street) and Chiswell Street, in the original home of the Whitbread brewery (c.1748), the bar and restaurant provides the best of new and old-fashioned British cooking, courtesy of head chef Richard O’Connell, who formerly worked at The Groucho Club and One Aldwych. Chiswell Street Dining Rooms is open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper.
Ed’s Easy Diner has been offering diners a taste of 1950’s American culture serving classic stateside favourites against a backdrop of jukebox hits since 1987.
Home to great hamburgers, delicious hot dogs and arguably the best milkshakes in town, Ed’s remains a firm favourite for diners everywhere and has become a hotspot for film and TV locations, photo shoots and celebrities.
The perfect place to chill out and enjoy great tasting food and legendary music, Ed’s is a big slice of Americana that tastes as good as it looks.
Situated in the newly developed Heron Tower on Bishopsgate, the drift is the latest venue from Drake & Morgan. A sanctuary in the heart of the City it boasts a fine-dining nook, mixology table, secluded cabana with a captivating view of Europe’s largest private aquarium and a ‘pontoon’ lounge bar. Diners choose from an imaginative menu with plenty of sharing options and innovative cocktails include calorie-counted ‘skinnies’, afternoon tea martinis and liquid desserts to die for.
A secret garden, away from the bustle of the City, The Folly is a botanically inspire haven from the Drake & Morgan group. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an 8m vertical tree trunk, plant-pot lampshades and a bee hive-inspired back bar work together to create a bar and restaurant that instills a sense of the outdoors. The Folly is an all-day drinking and dining destination, with coffee and pastries for breakfast and signature sharing boards and hearty mains for lunch and dinner along with cocktails and an accessible wine list.
Kimchee on High Holborn has set out to be one of London’s finest Korean restaurants, with its sleek and stylish interior you can’t help but fall in love with the place. Kimchee packs in all the wonderful flavours of Korean cuisine at reasonable prices, with an open plan kitchen and charcoal BBQ serving delicious meat and fish dishes – the perfect way to truly experience a unique taste of Korea.
Injecting new life into a pub that has stood at 58 St Martin’s Lane since 1727, Tom and Ed Martin, are setting their own date in history as they make their West-End debut in the heart of theatreland with The Angel & Crown. The menu showcases signature modern pub dishes featuring seasonal British produce sourced from select artisan producers, regional farmers and Billingsgate Market. Theatreland applauds The Angel & Crown!
Benito’s Hat brings brilliant burritos and tasty tacos to the capital with sites at Goodge Street, New Row, Great Castle Street and Kings Cross station on the newly opened concourse. Add to this agreat range of Margaritas, Mexican beers and South American wines and Benito’s Hat have got it wrapped.
Tom and Ed Martin’s latest venture promises to be the gastropub opening of the year. The Jugged Hare takes its name from a famous 18th century recipe by Hannah Glasse, the UK’s first and foremost domestic goddess. With a focus on seasonal British dishes prepared using traditional cooking methods including spit roast and charcoal grill alongside independent boutique wines, The Jugged Hare boasts a handsome pub, a spacious dining room complete with an open theatre-style kitchen and a stunning vaulted private room.
Spread over three floors, The White Swan on Fetter Lane oozes charm and character. The lovingly-styled ground floor pub and mezzanine level features a return to traditionalism while the chic dining room on the top floor is designed with elegance in mind. The menu showcases only the highest quality produce with daily changing pub dishes available in the bar area and a modern British cuisine in the restaurant.
As the name suggests champagne is at the heart of the concept, bringing together twenty-five award-winning grower champagnes from family-owned, independent producers and an enviable selection of French cheese, charcuterie, and tartines. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, French Bubbles provides an informal deli-style experience, with passionate and knowledgeable staff on hand to lend their advice on pairing champagne with food. Champagne, cheese and gifts are available to take home from the shop, and regular masterclasses are available for those who want to learn more about bubbly.
Cantina Laredo offers Londoners a taste of Mexico in bustling Covent Garden, with a relaxed, yet refined environment and excellent service. Serving modern Mexican cuisine based on traditional recipes, Cantina Laredo uses the freshest, carefully sourced ingredients, and serves a menu that reflects the vibrancy of Mexican culture, with everything prepared daily, on-site. To complement thefood, the restaurant offers an extensive drinks list, with wines selected by Master of Wine Richard Bampfield to match the fiery flavours. Tempting cocktails, and of course, a range ofover 30 of the world’s very best 100% blue agave tequilas are also available.
Chooks, a trend-setting chicken restaurant is a casual roost, ruffling the feathers of the Muswell Hill set. The clucking good menu includes chicken in a variety of guises; grilled whole with spicy buffalo marinade, buttermilk-fried with mash and gravy, shredded in subs with cheese and jalapenos and atop fresh salads of beetroot, roasted corn and broccoli while craft beers and jam jars full of frozen margarita will satiate the brood’s thirst.
With spots in Notting Hill, South Kensington and Westfield Stratford, Bumpkin serves hearty, wholesome British dishes alongside an environmentally friendly wine list and a selection of tempting cocktails. The country-in-the-city style restaurants take sustainability seriously and from farm to fork all the dishes are made using only the freshest seasonal British ingredients. Sourced from welfare-friendly farms, everything is grown, reared and caught in harmony with nature wherever possible, meaning it’s packed with bags of natural flavour. Open daily, the restaurants are perfect for a laid-back lunch or dinner, and come the weekend enjoy a delicious brunch or traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings.
There aren’t many more fitting locations for a restaurant specialising in steaks than on the same cobbles as of one of the county’s oldest meat markets, which is precisely why The Grill on the Market chose to set up in Smithfield. Simplicity is at the heart of the restaurant’s ethos where fuss-free menus promise “solid, honest proper food”. Sourcing is top of the priority list to provide great cuts of premium beef, which range from a 225g rib eye to a Wagyu fillet or succulent Chateaubriand that is perfect for sharing, as well as seafood, sides and sauces that sing with flavour. An impressive wine list of more than 100 options ensures there is the ideal bottle to partner any dish, or pull up a stool at the bar where innovative concoctions come courtesy of slings, specialities, hurricanes and flutes.
Wabi is the contemporary Japanese restaurant from ex-Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth. With a stylish restaurant, cocktail lounge, Sushi bar, dessert bar, private dining room and outdoor terrace, Wabi, located in Holborn, offers an authentic Asian experience in suitably smart surroundings.
Sushinho is the second outpost from the team responsible for bringing Brazilian-Japanese food to London. Forget ‘fusion’, Sushinho blends Japanese finesse and Brazilian flair offering an exciting range of contemporary dishes without calling for a choice between the two. The stylish restaurant interior complete with 10ft sushi bar evokes the eateries of Sao Paulo and Rio; whilst The Cutler Bar, a sleek basement lounge, provides a cool city hideout regardless of your dinner plans.
Opening this Summer in Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, Whyte & Brown is a new and vibrant casual dining concept with chicken as the hero. This new breed of restaurant will celebrate the culinary versatility of the chicken including eggs, from brunch through to supper. Delicious roasted and free-range chickens are served up alongside an exciting array of egg-based dishes in stylish surroundings at affordable prices. Dishes include soups, pâtes, burgers, salads, terrines, pies and casseroles along with a strong selection of vegetarian dishes to champion eggs with a great choice of quiches, tortillas and desserts.
Revere Pub Company is revitalising a small number of pubs around the country, including several with rooms, to create comfortable, contemporary and welcoming environments. They each offer credible and quality food alongside a carefully chosen drinks selection which includes craft ales, speciality beers and cocktails.
Located in the picturesque surroundings of Lymington in Hampshire, The Angel & Blue Pig has been transformed into a coaching inn for modern times, providing a home-from-home feel for locals and visitors alike. Preserving the key features of the original 13th century property, the pub boasts 12 design-led bedrooms which offer stylish and contemporary décor, whilst a menu of regularly changing seasonal dishes sits alongside an array of cask ales and craft beers.
Scotch Egg Challenge
Elevating the humble bar snack to new heights, The Scotch Egg challenge is the nation’s annual search to find the best Scotch Egg. Back by popular demand, this year’s competition is set to be fiercer then ever and will include a cook-off and blind tasting hosted by a star-studded panel of egg-spert judges.
For more news, updates and announcements read The Ship’s blog at www.theship.co.uk/blog or follow #ScotchEggChallenge.
Owned by husband and wife team Alex and Saiphin Moore, Rosa’s Thai Café is a blend of two cultures and combines traditional and authentic recipes from Thailand with ingredients sourced a lot closer to home. Rosa’s was borne from a humble street stall in Brick Lane to opening its first restaurant in Spitalfields, with additional sites in Soho and Westfield Stratford. With an emphasis on modern Thai cuisine, delicious, honest and generous helpings of some of the best Thai food in London is served up against a quirky, relaxed and somewhat kitsch café backdrop that is urban, contemporary and, most importantly, welcoming. Fun and convivial, Rosa’s caters for diners looking for locally sourced, quality food in a relaxed environment.
A new Korean takeaway concept from the team behind KIMCHEE Restaurant, Holborn. Serving the healthy, well-balanced meals that are at the heart of Korean cuisine from breakfast through to lunch. KIMCHEE to go aims to bring London the flavours of Korea – on the go. Opening first on the Strand and then on New Oxford Street, this April.
From Gin palace to Victorian coaching inn, The White Horse, nestled on the northern corner of leafy Parsons Green, has been a haven for beer lovers, locals and Londonersalike since 1688. This historic West London pub has recently opened its freshly polished doors following an extensive refurbishment – serving up a new menu and a superior selection of extraordinary beers and wines from across the globe.
A firm favourite with Kensington locals The Windsor Castle has been serving delicious food and exceptional ales to Londoners for hundreds of years. With one of the best beer gardens in the capital and now with a brand new dining room to show off, The Windsor Castle proudly opens its doors in late April following extensive refurbishment
Built in 1585 and nestled a stone’s throw from Hampstead Heath – The Spaniards Inn is steeped in a tangle of traveller’s tales, fact and folklore. Its appealing ales saved Lord Mansfield from attack when hoodlums stopped to quench their thirst, giving the landlord time to alert the army. Its comfortable rooms sheltered the Spanish Ambassador from the plague; and it has been immortalised in Charles Dickens’s The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Now one of London’s oldest pubs is ready to become a talking point once again following a tasteful refurb – stepping into 2013 with a fresh lick of paint, new menu and a stunning selection of beers, ales, wines and whiskeys.
Paramount – the stylish, sky-high restaurant, bar and events space atop Centre Point – is one of chicest destinations in the capital, with sweeping views to match. Set against a sleek, Tom Dixon-designed backdrop, with 360-degree views of London unfolding through shimmering glass windows, there’s nowhere quite like it for creative cocktails and people-watching at the bar, breakfast, lunch or dinner in the restaurant, or an event with an edge at Level 31.
Tuscanic is a deli-café on Old Compton Street: stylish but understated, the Soho merende showcases the best of Tuscany with an emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients, warm, homely service and absolute authenticity. Drop in for Tuscan cured meats with fresh-out-the-oven focaccia or shop the range of traditional Tuscan produce, from olive oils and vinegars to pastas, cheeses and meats.
www.tuscanic.com
A stone’s throw from the beautiful North Norfolk coast, boutique, family-run Titchwell Manor is a stunning 27-bedroom country retreat offering destination fine dining. The elegant former Victorian farmhouse combines traditional values with chic contemporary accommodation and spectacular, uninterrupted views across open marshes to the North Sea. Guests can enjoy celebrated gastronomy courtesy of Head Chef and rising culinary star Eric Snaith and his team. Eric’s flair and flavours have earned him a reputation for exquisitely presented, innovative, modern European food. The finest local ingredients and cutting edge-techniques have won the hotel three AA Rosettes and Eric himself the title of Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Food and Drink Chef of the Year 2012.
All-day brunches, lazy Sunday roasts, vintage interiors and innovative cocktails have become synonymous with these North-West London favourites. Located in Queen’s Park and West Hampstead The Alice Houses champion British craft beers, including their own Alice lager, and simple dishes done well.
www.thealicehouse.co.uk/queens-park
www.thealicehouse.co.uk
Upstairs, a chic, relaxed all-day brasserie in the heart of the West End, offering delicious dishes that champion local produce and an excellent selection of sparkling wines from across the globe. Downstairs, & Co is one of Carnaby Street’s best kept secrets – a sultry basement bar serving cocktails based on a sensory experience; there are no labels, no brands just bespoke cocktails made to suit your individuality and taste.
www.centralandco.com
Set in the heart of Maida Vale, this former British boozer opened at the end of 2012 serving top notch pub grub in slick surrounds. The all-day style of The Elgin sees locals and regulars swinging through its shiny new doors from breakfast thorough to dinner, with a local beer along the way.
www.theelgin.com
Full of charm and rustic character The Gallery boasts an impressive whisky list and a menu packed full of hearty fayre. Its unpretentious and relaxed atmosphere keep people coming back again and again.
www.ilovethegallery.com
A stylish gin bar located within the media hub of Golden Square. With work from some of the capital’s most up-and-coming street artists adorning the walls and more than 180 gins behind the bar, Graphic is a favourite with the Soho crowd. Drinks are served in paint cans and for £30,000 they’ll even arrange to have Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley deliver a special ‘Gold’ can to your table whilst belting out his famous hit!
www.graphicbar.co.uk
Executive chef Adam Byatt is the man behind the menu at Trinity, the three AA-rosette, go-to gourmet destination in Clapham Old Town. Modern European dishes include the likes of scallop ceviche, rump of lamb and roast hake, whilst Adam’s signature is the much-lauded pigs’ trotters — celebrated during Trinity’s annual Pig Week. The restaurant itself is stylish but understated, with crisp linen on tables, a soft colour palette running throughout, and a smart, efficient staff.
www.trinityrestaurant.co.uk
Executive chef Adam Byatt from Trinity brings his culinary prowess to an altogether more casual affair at Bistro Union on Abbeville Road. A very British neighbourhood bistro, Adam’s second restaurant offers accessible bistro fare against a backdrop of stripped floorboards, zinc tables and alcohol lockers that locals have their own keys to. Foodies flock for dishes such as roast chicken for two, Cumberland toad in the hole and mac ‘n’ cheese, and brunch is big business with young, hip locals.
www.bistrounion.co.uk