Jeremy King sets 2026 opening for Simpson’s in the Strand

Jeremy King has given an update on his plans to finally relaunch Simpson’s in the Strand in London in 2026.

The restaurateur has been working on a revival of one of London’s oldest restaurants, which was among the first in the UK to win a Michelin star in 1974, for three years.

In an email to customers, King said Simpson’s would have a soft opening at the end of February and would soon be taking bookings for mid-March.

It will effectively be run as two restaurants, with the historic Grand Divan dining room downstairs offering a more classic bill of fare while the upstairs Romano’s space will serve a more relaxed, modern menu.

“Some of us believe that restaurants are a form of theatre, and over on the Strand, we are happily engaged in a flurry of pre-opening preparations,” said King.

“In the realm of sets, it took a team of three to install the chandelier in the Grand Divan, thankfully without an ‘Only Fools & Horses’ moment. Upstairs at Romano’s, our more relaxed restaurant, the painter Michael May’s portraits of 19th-century playwrights have been painstakingly hung in position.”

Simpson’s launched in 1828 and is owned by the neighbouring Savoy hotel. The restaurant has not reopened since 2020 and some of its fixtures and fittings were auctioned off in 2023.

King has assembled a top team for the relaunch, including David Stevens (former Wolseley Hospitality Group executive chef), Ed Ross and Sam Samyani (both ex Corbin & King head chefs) and general manager Michael Johnston (previously general manager at Brasserie Zédel).

King added: “Simpson’s in the Strand has been a dream of mine for decades, and now that we are just months away from welcoming you, the various elements are coalescing more beautifully than I ever could have imagined. Our soft opening is scheduled for the end of February, and soon, we will begin accepting mid-March bookings. When the time comes, the stage will be set, our choreography will be perfected—and we will eagerly await your reviews.”

King’s London restaurant portfolio includes the Park in Bayswater and Arlington, which he launched last year on the original site of Le Caprice.