The latest hospitality venues to open their doors across the UK in October 2023
Spooky season brings some frightfully good new openings to the UK hospitality scene. From the latest star on Travelodge's set to boutique bakeries in the capital, there's plenty to inspire and delight.
Find out about all the new openings below
Send info on your new opening to openings@thecaterer.com
Chai Guys Bakehouse, Notting Hill, London
Chai Guys Bakehouse is to launch its third London site in Notting Hill, following recent openings in Old Spitalfields Market in Shoreditch and Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden.
Chai Guys was founded by Abhilash Jobanputra and Gabriel Unger in 2018 after a "transformative" trip to India. The pair spent nine months perfecting their chai recipe and debuted it at London's Brick Lane before moving into Spitalfields.
The latest launch, Chai Guys Bakehouse, will be a bakery café offering pastries from around the world, including France, Scandinavia, India and Japan.
Seasonal specials and a soft-serve chai ice-cream will also be available, as well as a classic range of chais.
Opening 23 November
Typical dishes Cardamom-infused chai spice milk bread; masala chai
Address 193 Portobello Road, London W11 2ED
Website chaiguys.shop
Café Kitty, London
Kitty Fisher's Group will launch restaurant Café Kitty in London's theatre district. The 60-cover venue will have blush pink walls, burlesque posters and velvet seating, with a menu from head chefs Charles Shaw and Fabrizio Pusceddu.
Opening 3 November
Typical dishes Mushroom thermidor; very Welsh rarebit; fish pie and greens
Address Underbelly Boulevard, 6 Walker's Court, London W1F 0BT
Website www.cafekitty.co.uk
Yum Bug, Old Street, London
Bug-based restaurant and cricket meat company Yum Bug has launched as a pop-up in east London. Founders Aaron Thomas and Leo Taylor have teamed up with chefs including Clem Haxby from the Salad Project and Tom Molema of Dynamo to create dishes.
Opened 26 October
Typical dishes Cricket mince, hummus, seasonal crudites; cricket ragu, polenta, golden garlic
Address 211 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR
Website www.yumbug.com
Ixchel, Chelsea, London
Mexican restaurant and tequila bar Ixchel will open in London's Chelsea under head chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez, who has previously worked at Brat in Shoreditch. Drinks have been developed by bar manager Manuel Lema, previously of Cavita in Marylebone.
Opening 22 November
Typical dishes Sautéed prawn quesadilla; Albacore tuna sashimi, ponzu toreada sauce
Address 33 King's Road, London SW3 4LX
Website ixchellondon.com
Lyla, Edinburgh
Chef Stuart Ralston has opened 28-cover restaurant Lyla in Edinburgh. He offers a 10-course tasting menu featuring produce from across Scotland. The wine list has been compiled by sommelier Stuart Skea.
Opened 18 October
Typical dishes N25 caviar with wild bream, black radish, sea buckthorn; chawanmushi with razor clam
Address 3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5DX
Website lylaedinburgh.co.uk
Cosy Club, Oxford
Cosy Club, part of Loungers, has opened in Oxford. The all-day diner has been fitted with 100 bespoke light fittings, 206 rolls of wallpaper and plumes of ostrich feathers.
Opened 16 October
Typical dishes Shakshuka with chorizo and feta; pulled beef and smoked bacon croquettes with black garlic aioli, crispy leeks and Parmesan
Address Northgate House Development, Cornmarket Street, Oxford OX1 3EZ
Website cosyclub.co.uk
Café Laperouse, Whitehall, London
Parisian restaurant Café Laperouse has opened at the OWO in London's Whitehall. The 174-cover restaurant spreads across an indoor pavilion and a courtyard dining area. Dishes have been inspired by the travels of French explorer Jean-François de Lapérouse.
Opened 11 October
Typical dishes Halles onion gratin; Burgundy snails in the shell with parsley butter
Address 7 Horse Guards Avenue, London SW1A 2EX
Website laperouse.com
Harrods Dining Hall, Knightsbridge, London
Harrods in London's Knightsbridge has welcomed four new chefs to its Grade II-listed Dining Hall, which is already home to Kerridge's fish and chips and the Grill.
Masayoshi (‘Masa') Takayama of the three-Michelin-starred Masa in New York is offering a 40-cover omakase experience with dishes such as Masa toro caviar paired to a selection of cocktails and sakes.
Neha Mishra of the Kinoya Ramen Bar in Dubai, which was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand this year, has also joined the line-up with her menu of shio paitan (duck ramen), wagyu tsukune, yakitori and tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen.
Meanwhile, Athanasios Kargatzidis (also known as Chef Tommy) of Assembly Mezze & Skewers, who owns Baron Beirut in Lebanon, offers traditional Greek dishes with a focus on grill and flame cookery.
Finally, Giancarlo Perbellini of Pasta Evangelists, who is behind the two-Michelin-starred Casa Perbellini in Verona, offers classic pasta dishes such as rigatoni ‘cacio e pepe' and tiramisu.
Opened 7 October
Typical dishes Ravioli with braised venison; scallop, spring onion and lemon butter shoyu
Address 87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL
Website www.harrods.com
Hummingbird Bakery, Soho, London
The Hummingbird Bakery has opened in London's Soho with its American-style offering of cupcakes, birthday cakes, cookies and red velvet ice-cream. The 800 sq ft venue features neutral colours, marbled worktops and wooden floors.
Opened 18 October
Typical dishes S'morogato (red velvet ice-cream over coffee; black bottom frosted cookies
Address 118 Wardour Street, London W1F 0TU
Website www.hummingbirdbakery.com
Atelier Coupette, London
Cocktail bar Coupette has opened all-day sister site Atelier Coupette. The site, led by group bar manager Andrei Marcu, will offer a range of sweet and savoury drinks and French nouvelle-cuisine inspired small plates.
Opened 5 October
Typical drinks Apricot sencha (Ki No Bi gin, apricot wine, toasted cashew, Tio Pepe, jasmine sencha)
Address Ground Floor, 9 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
Website www.coupette.co.uk
BKC, Soho, London
Indian restaurant BKC (Biryani Kebab Chai) has opened its second site, in London's Soho. It focuses on Awadhi cuisine, which originates from modern-day Lucknow in Northern India, and offers kebabs, kormas, biryanis and warqi parathas.
Opened 3 October
Typical dishes Tandoori lobster; kathal ki shami (jackfruit and walnut patties with coriander chutney)
Address 10 Moor Street, London W1D 5NE
Website bkclondon.uk
Le Deli Robuchon, Kensington, London
Le Deli by Joël Robuchon International is set to open its all-day bakery and deli in London's Kensington. The menu has been created by group executive chef David Alves, who was also involved in the relaunch of L'Atelier Robuchon in Mayfair.
Opening 6 November
Typical dishes Tarte aux framboises; walnut and raisin bread; gâteau à la pistache
Address 279 King's Road, London SW3 5EW
Website www.robuchonlondon.co.uk
Eggslut, Stratford, London
Los Angeles-based, egg-themed diner Eggslut will be opening its fifth and largest UK site to date in London's Stratford. The restaurant is set to include a 90-cover outdoor terrace and executive chef Bruno Pires will be offering an exclusive evening menu.
Opening 28 October
Typical dish Gaucho (wagyu steak, egg, red onion, chimichurri sauce and rocket in a brioche bun
Address 36 Victory Parade, London E20 1GF
Website www.eggslut.uk
Afrikana, Greenwich, London
Independent African-inspired restaurant Afrikana has opened at the O2 in London's Greenwich. The 1,992 sq ft space features interiors that pay homage to African influences and guests will be offered grilled chicken, curries and burgers.
Opened 10 October
Typical dishes Slide in the DMs (sliders with grilled and fried chicken and pulled beef)
Address The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
Website www.afrikanakitchen.com
Rude Giant, Sailsbury
The founders of Wiltshire-based brewery Rude Giant have launched their first permanent hospitality venue, the Rude Giant Beer House in Salisbury.
The beer house is located in Salisbury's largest independent music venue, which once housed American soldiers during the war. It can seat 80 across the indoor and outdoor courtyards.
The space is surrounded by festoon lighting and features a stage for weekly DJ sets, open mic nights, bring your own vinyl specials and quiz nights.
Dan Hancock of Immersive Group, Joe Robinson of Blonde Brothers, Lyall Dew, formerly of Sixpenny Brewery and the Brew Shack, and Ethan Davids of Chickpea Group have created a menu of smash burgers, mac 'n' cheese and bar snacks that can be paired to a selection of beers.
Opened 4 October
Typical dishes Steady Eddy smash burger; mac 'n' cheese with bourbon baked beans; Rude Giant frickles
Address Brown Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2AS
Website www.rudegiant.com
Permit Room, Brighton
Dishoom is set to launch the Permit Room in Brighton, which will be an all-day bar-café drawing inspiration from the permit rooms of 1960s and 1970s Bombay. More than half of the dishes will be vegetarian or vegan.
Opening November
Typical dishes Chakli with fried spiced flours; aunty's anda (egg) curry; cauliflower moilee
Address 32 East Street, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1NF
Iné, Hampstead, London
The team behind Michelin-starred Taku Mayfair will be opening a contemporary Japanese à la carte and 15-course omakase restaurant in London's Hampstead. Dishes will be prepared by head chef Law Kwok Meng, who has trained in the Taku kitchen.
Opening 24 October
Typical dishes Lobster with cauliflower and sudachi jelly; grilled Iberico pork
Address 16 Hampstead High Street, London NW3 1PX
Website www.takumayfair.com
Noci, Shoreditch, London
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Pasta and Sicilian street food restaurant Noci has opened in London's Shoreditch. It marks the group's third site, following Islington Green and Battersea Power Station. The 130-cover restaurant also has an outdoor terrace.
Opened 3 October
Typical dishes Brown shrimp and ricotta raviolo; porcini and shimeji mushroom tagliatelle
Address The Bower, 211 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR
Website nocirestaurant.co.uk
Cafeteria, Newcastle
Nick Grieves, chef owner of the Patricia in Jesmond and Ophelia in Gosforth, has launched his third restaurant, Cafeteria, in Gosforth, Newcastle. Grieves is taking inspiration from the classic ‘caffs' of the 1950s and 1960s with inexpensive, home-cooked meals.
Opened 3 October
Typical dishes Toast and jam; pie and mash
Address 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 1RX
Website cafeteriagosforth.co.uk
Folk at Florence Dock, Battersea, London
Co-living brand Folk has launched its third short-stay site in London's Battersea. Guests are eligible to stay between one and 89 nights and will have access to a co-working space, community kitchens, a gym, cinema room, gaming room, lounge and bar. The property has 270 studios on offer.
Opened 3 October
Room rate £90
Address 45 Chatfield Road, London SW11 3SH
Website www.folkcoliving.com
Casa Brugal, East London
Neighbourhood café and bar Casa Brugal will be offering its Dominican rum brand Brugal in East London, alongside Casa Brugal's Dominican coffee blend and Lily Vanilli's Brugal-inspired cake. Workshops with Earl of East and the Art of Cacao will also be taking place.
Opening 20 October
Typical drinks Maestro's Welcome; Brugal Espresso Martini
Address 326 Hackney Road, London E2 7DQ
Website casabrugal.com
Portobello 177, Notting Hill, London
Sly Augustin, the owner of London cocktail bar Trailer Happiness, has partnered with hospitality consultant Maiko Neill to open neighbourhood restaurant Portobello 177 in London's Notting Hill.
The pair will be joined by head chef Shay Ola of Rebel Dining Society to offer guests a selection of sharing-style dishes inspired by Caribbean and Japanese barbecue culture.
The 50-cover restaurant features sea green tiling, a central bar with counter seats, a semi-open kitchen and terrace seating into Portobello Road and Elgin Crescent.
Augustin has curated an extensive wine list comprising bio-natural wines, "wild card" wines, and cocktails made from small-batch distillers from the UK. Examples include the Stirred One, the Sour One, the Fun One, the Tall One and the Fizzy One.
Opened 4 October
Typical dishes Grilled prawns, tare, fermented mango, lemongrass vinaigrette, chili crisp and furikake; braised oxtail, burnt Padron pepper purée, caramelised carrot purée, carrot tops and sorrel leaves
Address 177 Portobello Road, London W11 2DY
Social @Portobello177
Bambi, London Fields
James Dye, the co-owner of Franks in Peckham, and chef Henry Freestone of Peckham Cellars have opened music-led wine bar and restaurant Bambi in London Fields. At the weekends resident DJs take over the space after dinner service until 1am.
Opening 6 October
Typical dishes Cauliflower cheese arancini; chicken parm ciabatta, vodka marinara, pickles, aioli
Address 1 Westgate Street, London E8 3RL
Website www.bambi-bar.com
Saltine, Highbury
Mat Appleton and Jess Blackstone, the founders of Fink's cafés in north London, will be opening Saltine restaurant in Highbury. The pair have joined forces with chef Phil Wood, who was previously at St John Marylebone.
Opening Mid-October
Typical dishes Fried stracciatella and anchovy sandwiches; cured bream with fennel seed saltine
Address 11 Highbury Park, London N5 1QJ
Website www.saltine.co.uk
Oshpaz, St James', London
Muzaffar Sadykov's Uzbek food stall has opened as a permanent restaurant in London's St James's. Oshpaz is offering a 20-seat diner after a series of pop-ups at Mercato Metropolitano, Kerb and Seven Dials Market.
Opened 5 October
Typical dishes Steamed dumplings; shaslik kebabs
Address 7 Regent Street, London W1B 4DY
Website www.oshpaz.co.uk
Travelodge, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Travelodge has opened its second hotel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The 78-bedroom property features an on-site restaurant called the Bar Café and a car park. Rooms come with bedside charging ports, blackout curtains and comfortable armchairs.
Opened 26 September
Room rate £38
Address Enstone Court, Wellingborough, NN8 2DR
Website www.travelodge.co.uk
Akara, Borough Yards, London
Aji Akokomi, owner of Akoko in London's Fitzrovia, will be opening Akara in Borough Yards. The 40-cover restaurant is named after the West African black-eye bean fritter and is set to offer traditional flavours of the region in a relaxed setting.
Opening 24 October
Typical dishes Chanterelle mushroom patê; carabinero prawns and vatapa
Address Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
Website www.akaralondon.co.uk
Spinners, Plymouth
Interactive games bar Spinners will be opening in Plymouth following a £1.2m investment. Clay shooting booths, Duckpin bowling lanes and darts oches will be on offer alongside a selection of food and drinks.
Opening 12 October
Typical dishes Simply salami pizza; bang bang nachos
Address Drake Circus, 1 Charles Street, Plymouth PL1 1EA
Website www.spinnersuk.com
>> New restaurants, hotels and bars opening in September 2023
