Latest openings: the Seafood Bar, Fatt Pundit, Soma and more
A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors.
The Seafood Bar
The Seafood Bar is the first UK opening from a family-owned seafood restaurant group based in the Netherlands. It was founded by Fons de Visscher, who spent 27 years as a fishmonger in Helmond, before opening a restaurant in Amsterdam in 2012 with his son and daughters, Pepijn, Eline and Fleur. The family now has three sites in the Dutch capital, one of which holds a Michelin plate, and one in Utrecht.
Now the De Visschers have taken the former Red Fort site in Soho for their first London venue, a 190-cover restaurant spanning two floors. Guests can view the catch of the day in the downstairs seafood bar, which offers a menu of finger food and will host late-night oyster parties.
The menu main item is the fruits de mer platter, which is piled high with lobster, North Sea crab, razor clams and more. Ethical sourcing is a big focus, with the team partnering with Nordic Blu to source the world's most sustainably farmed salmon, and the restaurant will run on wind energy.
Opening 9 September
Design Woodfever
Founder Fons de Visscher
Typical dishes Fruits de mer platters featuring lobster, North Sea crab, razor clams, langoustines and Dutch shrimps; sustainably bred oysters matured in the ‘claires' in France; mixed grill of crustaceans and fish cooked on a plancha grill
Website www.theseafoodbar.com
Fatt Pundit
Fatt Pundit is heading to Covent Garden for its second London restaurant. Dishes are inspired by India's Chinese immigrant community, while two bar areas will serve a cocktail menu.
Opening 21 September
Founders Huzefa and Hamza Sajawal
Typical dishes Saffron butter prawns; honey chilli duck; sweet and sticky venison with burnt garlic and crispy noodles; lamb chops with black bean dust
Website www.fattpundit.co.uk
Soma
The team behind London's Kricket restaurant group have launched a basement bar next door to Kricket Soho. Soma seats 23 guests at a nine-metre stainless steel bar, while a lounge room can be hired for private events.
Opened 2 September
Founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell
Bar manager Angelos Bafas
Typical drinks Cocktails include ‘Leaf' with curry leaf, Opihr gin, kaffir leaf and pink peppercorn
Website www.somasoho.com
Radisson RED London Greenwich
The first Radisson RED hotel has opened in Greenwich in London. It features 70 rooms, a 50-cover all-day restaurant, 20-cover lounge area and a rooftop bar.
Opened 6 September
Operator Radisson Hotel Group
Owner Vivek Chadha, the Nine Group
Room rate From £72.10 per night
Website www.radissonhotels.com
Earls Sandwich Co
This Brooklyn-inspired sandwich shop in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, serves filled focaccias and challah buns. Fillings include pecorino and truffle rémoulade with McCoy's cheese and onion crisps.
Opened 8 September
Founders Chris and Charlotte Thompson
Typical dishes The ‘McLovin' It': black pudding sausage, fried egg, hash brown and jalapeño cheese in a challah bun
Website www.earlsedinburgh.com
The Cod's Scallops
The Cod's Scallops Nottingham restaurant was named the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year at the National Fish and Chip Awards in 2020. Its new site, in Harborne, Birmingham, serves over 20 species of fish and shellfish daily.
Opening Early October
Founder John Molnar
Typical dishes Sea bass, lobster, skate wing, cod or haddock served baked, battered or ‘naked'
Website www.codsscallops.com
Jollibee Reading
The Phillipino fast food chain's ninth UK restaurant has opened in Reading. It serves its signature fried ‘Chickenjoy', and ‘Jolly Spaghetti' with layers of cheese and hot dog slices.
Opened 9 September
Founder Tony Tan Caktiong
Typical dishes Crispy fried chicken with sweet spaghetti; Asian slaw; tropical burger; mango coconut sundae; Asian chicken tender rice bowl
Website www.jollibee.uk
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