James Cochran leaves self-titled restaurant to start new north London venture
Chef James Cochran has announced he is set to open on Islington's struggling Upper Street in north London, after severing ties with James Cochran EC3.
The new restaurant, 1251, is set to open its doors on 28 August in a location previously used by Chinese Laundry, which closed in March this year.
The restaurant will seat 48 covers across two floors along with seating for eight on an outdoor terrace. Operating hours will run from 11am-11pm.
Cochran, originally from Whitstable, will make Kentish produce central to his menu while drawing on his Scottish and West Indian heritage, with dishes such as organic Kent-breed pork, blood pudding, smoked eel, turnip kimchi, apricot and miso, as well as jerk-spiced monkfish, iceberg lettuce, watermelon and coriander.
A five- to eight-course tasting menu is also planned, along with Cochran's signature goat sharing board, which will include choice cuts of goat alongside black-eyed pea dhal, roti, scotch bonnet jam and pineapple.
The Caterer understands 1251 is a distinct and separate operation to James Cochran EC3, which has continued to trade with the chef's name after he left the operation.
Cochran previously operated further along the road in Angel Central, where James Cochran N1 ran for four months. After closing the location claimed to have been a pop-up; however, initial billing presented the site as a formal restaurant.