Conran plans French-style bistro for north London

Chris Galvin, head chef at Orrery on London's Marylebone High Street, is working closely with Patrick Fischnaller, Orrery's general manager, and Sir Terence Conran to finalise details of the Conran Group's newest restaurant due to open later this year in Islington, north London.

The restaurant's name, menu and head chef are yet to be confirmed, but Galvin says the restaurant will be a French bistro in style, a particular feature being a charcuterie trolley that will be used to serve diners at table.

"We've been all round Paris looking at bistros because Terence wants it to be really authentic," says Galvin. "The kitchen is to die for. I've ordered a fabulous stove and tried to make it as nice for cooks as possible."

The Conran Group took a 25-year lease on the property on Almeida Street, just off Islington's Upper Street, at the end of June, intending to create another Zinc Bar & Grill.

But the group decided to create a full restaurant instead in the 580sq m space, filling what it perceived to be a gap in Upper Street, which is already busy with bars and casual dining concepts.

Development of Zinc Bar & Grill continues apace, however, with two sites opening this autumn in Edinburgh (4 October) and Birmingham (mid-November).

The group plans to open around six Zincs a year over the next few years following the success of the concept in Heddon Street just off London's Regent Street, and in Manchester.