Openings

First for Locatelli

Locanda Locatelli opens in London's Churchill Inter-Continental hotel on 14 February. The 90-seat restaurant, which has had a £1.5m refurbishment, is the first independent venture for chef Giorgio Locatelli. His wife, Plaxy, will oversee front of house.

Toad in the Sol

Eldridge Pope opened its 19th Toad bar at the Sol Central shopping centre in Northampton this month. The £1.5m new bar will cater for 600 people on two floors and employ 35 staff.

Capital Shanghai'd

Capital Shanghai & Chinese restaurant opens in Gerrard Street, London, today (31 January). The 60-seat restaurant, formerly the Mandarin, has been refurbished at a cost of £20,000. Managing director Mark Chan said that Shanghai's was the most under-represented of China's regional cuisines in the UK.

Rock goes to Wales

The Chicago Rock Café opened in Swansea last week. The bar and restaurant is housed in the former Post Office social club and ballroom in Wind Street. The chain, part of Luminar Leisure, has more than 60 caf‚s in the UK with others opening in Wrexham, Redditch, Ilford, Trowbridge and Basildon next month.

Sixth Strada soon

Strada is to open its sixth restaurant on London's Earl's Court Road in mid-March. Formerly the Tanama Restaurant, the 2,000sq ft Italian-style venue will have a total of 85 seats on two floors. The property has been leased for 20 years at a rent of £40,000 a year.