Russell Norman to open Brutto restaurant in London

Polpo co-founder Russell Norman is set to open new restaurant Brutto in London later this year.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Marina O'Loughlin said that "after leaving the group last year, he has an exciting project on the go, possibly in Smithfield" and suggested the venue would serve a "hearty, rustic Tuscan menu".

The name Brutto is Italian for ‘ugly' and the restaurant is expected to open in the summer or autumn. Posting on Instagram, the restaurant said its philosophy was based on the Italian ‘brutto ma buono', which means ‘ugly but good'.

Norman and Richard Beatty opened the first Polpo in London's Soho in September 2009 and grew the group to eight sites. Two sites remain in Soho and Chelsea remain, which Beatty acquired out of administration.