Latest openings: the Pharmacy, Fiend, the Ro hotel and more
A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors.
The Old Pharmacy
Chef Merlin Labron-Johnson has opened a new venture a few doors down from his Michelin-starred Osip in Bruton, Somerset.
The Old Pharmacy, which has been trading as a weekend takeaway shop for the past few months, has now opened a dining room, serving small plates inspired by the flavours of rural Provence.
The Old Pharmacy is a more casual space than Osip, where guests can drop in for local charcuterie, cheeses or preserves, or settle in for a longer meal.
During the day it serves coffee, salads and toasties to takeaway or eat in at one of the window tables, while small plates, wine and cider are on offer in the evening. Dishes are led by produce grown at Labron-Johnson's own nearby plot of land, while head chef Paolo Mauceri (formerly of London's Hide and Pidgin) brings a Sicilian influence to the menu.
The wider team includes operations manager David Durban (ex-Petersham Nurseries and Frenchie) and manager Edward Boylan (ex-Carousel). The menu rounds off with a tiramisù recipe contributed by barman Andrea's mum, a recipe that has been passed down the generations.
Opened 22 July
Founder Merlin Labron-Johnson
Typical dishes Chilled butter bean soup with cucumber and wild fennel; ravioli of Westcombe ricotta with datterini tomatoes and basil
Website www.instagram.com/oldpharmacybruton
Fiend
Former 108 Garage chef Chris Denney is returning to London's Notting Hill to open a bar and restaurant. Fiend serves both an à la carte and a six-course set menu described as a "guided culinary adventure".
Opened 23 July
Founder Chris Denney
Typical dishes Bulgogi sweet bread with kefir cabbage and green onion; wagyu short rib with smoked tomato and Colston Bassett Stilton
Website www.fiend-portobello.com
Bar Crispin
The team behind London's Crispin have launched a wine bar and restaurant in Soho, offering a café-style morning menu and broader lunch and dinner dishes.
Opened 19 July
Founders Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam
General manager Stefano Cazzato
Head chef Brendan Lee
Typical dishes Flat fish, broad beans, citrus butter; anchovy and potato focaccia, salsa verde
Website www.barcrispin.com
The Ro hotel
The former Hydro hotel, which overlooks Lake Windermere in Cumbria, has relaunched as the Ro hotel following a multimillion-pound refurbishment. The bedroom count has increased from 78 to 87, while six new events spaces have been added, with capacity for up to 200 people.
Opened 1 July
Room rate From £274
General manager Fabio De Barros
Website www.therohotel.com
Sachi at Pantechnicon
Sachi is the latest addition to Pantechnicon in London's Belgravia, featuring a sushi chef's table, private booths set in a Japanese garden and a Tokyo-inspired late night bar. The menu celebrates both Nordic and Japanese flavours.
Opened 21 July
Head chef Collin Hudson
Executive chef Chris Golding
Typical dishes Trout with wasabi and vendace roe; pork belly, barley miso, mustard leaf
Website www.pantechnicon.com/sachi
Rico's Ristorante
The former site of Martin Wishart's Honours Brasserie in Edinburgh has been taken over by the Rocca Group. Named after founder Stefano Pieraccini's grandfather Enrico Pieraccini, it offers Italian dishes with fresh pasta made on-site daily.
Opened 9 July
Founder Stefano Pieraccini
Typical dishes Oven-baked sea bream; pappardelle, organic Peelham Farm rose veal ragù, black truffle
Website www.ricosristorante.co.uk
The Pig & Waffle
The Greedy Gordons Pub group has opened a pub in Grafton Underwood, near Kettering, offering brunch, lunch, evening tapas and drinks. The Pig Pen garden kiosk offers coffee, cake, ice-cream or cold drinks to take away.
Opened 21 June
Founders Richard Gordon and Sonya Harvey
Typical dishes Barbecue pulled pork and poached egg waffle; confit duck leg, fried duck egg, black pudding; fritto misto; potted mackerel
Website www.pigandwaffle.co.uk
Continue reading
You need to create an account to read this article. It's free and only requires a few basic details.
Already subscribed? Log In
