Forza Win announces closure
South London Italian favourite Forza Win will close for good after a final service on 21st February. Rated Very Good in the Guide, the restaurant from Bash Redford and former River Café chef Michael Lavery started life in a Peckham warehouse in 2018, making a name for their fresh pasta, trademark Custardos and cool-but-kindly service. Attention will turn to their Forza Wine spin-off (also in Peckham and at The National Theatre) with at least one new site expected within the year.
New openings in Manchester & Rye
Shaun Moffat (formerly of Best Local Restaurant Edinburgh Castle and Shoreditch favourite Manteca) has announced that he will open his first solo venture this spring in Manchester. The new project is called Winsome (appealing in a fresh, innocent way) and will be a 'guest-focused restaurant with northern hospitality at its heart'.
In Rye, former Bibendum head chef Matthew Harris (brother of Bouchon Racine's Henry Harris) opened Harry's restaurant in The Gallivant hotel last Friday 7th February.
Singburi moves to Shoreditch
It has been announced that notoriously hard-to-book Leytonstone gem Singburi will be relocating to Shoreditch in spring. The new restaurant is a joint venture between long-time Singburi head chef Sirichai Kularbwong and two friends, Nick Molyviatis (Kiln, Oma) and Alexander Gkikas (Catalyst). The trio hope to 'distil the essence' of the original which Kularbwong's parents Tony and Thelma opened as a fish and chip shop in 1999.
Open Seas launch 'Dived not Dredged'
Environmental charity Open Seas has launched its Dived Not Dredged campaign to champion scallop diving as a low-impact, sustainable alternative to the ecologically harmful practice of scallop dredging. The campaign sees Open Seas collaborating with restaurants including The Palmerston, Gloriosa, The Kinneuchar Inn and Inver to use the power of menus to empower diners and promote sustainable shellfish.
