This week's new openings: The Mere Scribbler, Le Roi Fou, London Cocktail Club and more
A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors
The Mere Scribbler
The Mere Scribbler, the latest venue from independent south London pub group Livelyhood, has opened opposite Streatham Common. The pub takes its title from the nickname of 18th century satirical novelist, diarist and playwright Frances Burney, who progressed her literary career in the area between 1779 and 1783. Further tribute has been paid through a statement piece of modern graffiti portraiture by local artists id-iom on a wall in the beer garden.
Local producers head up the drinks list, including Graveney gin from Tooting Broadway, and Little Bird gin from Peckham. There are also local craft beers Hepcat, Beatnik and Southpaw from the Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, and Cynthia's Remedy and Samuel's Tipple from microbrewery Streatham Brewing Co.
Covers Bar/dining areas: 80; garden: 40
Owner Sarah Wall
Operator Livelyhood
General manager Imogen Sharma
Head chef Nick Carter
Design LAP Architects
Typical dishes Risotto nero with pan-fried garlic baby squid; beer-battered fish and triple-cooked chips; and pan-fried skrei cod with winter vegetable colcannon
Websitewww.themerescribbler.co.uk
Dandy
Daniel Wilson and Andrew Leitch, the duo behind the Dandy Café pop-up, have opened a permanent site in London's Newington Green. The restaurant focuses on seasonal produce, speciality coffee and natural wines.
Covers Inside: 50; outside terrace: 30
Typical dishes Shawarma-spiced lamb belly, baba ganoush and cauliflower; burnt onion broth, spring leaves and hay-smoked labne; and radicchio with blood orange and miso
Websitewww.dandycafe.co.uk
Le Roi Fou
Chef-proprietor Jérôme Henry
Creative director Isolde Nash
Covers 30-35
Websitewww.leroifou.com
London Cocktail Club Monument
London Cocktail Club has launched its seventh venue, at London Monument. The latest venture is inspired by Savile Row tailors and the vibe is described as 'eccentric punk meets gentleman's club'.
Covers 120
General manager Matthew Robbins
Head bartender Dmitri Markovskij
Founder JJ Goodman
Websitewww.londoncocktailclub.co.uk
The Carriage House at the Stafford
The Stafford London has unveiled its Carriage House Suites. The redesign is an eclectic, luxurious take on the British country look, featuring oversized headboards and even original hay hoists. The suites are set within a 380-year-old, Grade II-listed building.
Bedrooms 11
Starting room rate £750
Design Champalimaud Design
Websitewww.thestaffordlondon.com
Machiya
Machiya, named after the townhouses that once typified the cityscape of Kyoto in Japan, has opened in London's Soho. The menus are centred around traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes, and the downstairs bar offers cocktails, whiskies and sakés.
Covers Restaurant: 23; bar: 20
Typical dishes Truffled omu rice; gyudon (beef strips cooked in soy sauce, mirin, sugar and saké); and gyukatsu (panko-crusted wagyu steak)
Websitemachi-ya.co.uk
The Tea Room at the Midland
The Midland hotel in Manchester has opened a Tea Room with a chef's counter, where guests can watch the hotel's pastry team preparing sandwiches. The new menu focuses on loose-leaf teas and local suppliers.
Hotel general manager Christopher Wayne-Wills
Executive chef Brian Sparks
Typical dishes English cucumber sandwich with Hendrick's gin and apple compote
