Sat Bains among line-up of guest chefs for Launceston Place collaborations
Ben Murphy, the head chef at Kensington restaurant Launceston Place, is to host of some of the UK’s top chefs in a series of one-off ‘Behind the Pass’ dinners this summer. A celebration of British cooking, the line-up will include Sat Bains, Florence Knight, and Rowley Leigh. With menus dictated by the seasonal produce available on the day, Launceston Place’s collaboration series will run from 30 May until the end of July, with each menu available for one night only. Tickets will be priced from £65 with optional wine pairings and can be purchased by emailing launcestonplace@danddlondon.com.
Tamarind of Mayfair closes for ‘major transformation’
Tamarind of Mayfair has closed in preparation for what the owners are promising will be an ‘innovative new look’ in time for early autumn. Rahul Khanna, director of the Tamarind Collection, which also owns Tamarind Kitchen in Soho, says the new-look Mayfair restaurant will have the feel of a private members club. Last month, Tamarind head chef Peter Joseph left the restaurant to launch his first solo project, Kahani, which is due to open in Chelsea this summer.
Brighton’s Chilli Pickle to open second restaurant in Guildford
Brighton restaurant The Chilli Pickle is expanding with a second site due to open in Guildford in July. Owners Alun and Dawn Sperring say the new site on the High Street is set across two floors and will have space for 125 covers. The Guildford restaurant will serve the same style of innovative regional Indian cooking as the Brighton flagship, which opened ten years ago. It will have a similar Indian market-inspired design with hand-painted stencil graphics and roadside-style posters.
Vivek Singh announces closure of Cinnamon Soho
Chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Soho has closed its doors after six years in Kingly Street. Part of The Cinnamon Collection, which includes the Cinnamon Club in Westminster and Cinnamon Kitchen in the City, the news was announced via a message on Cinnamon Soho’s website, which told customers that it hoped to ‘find a new site soon’ and directed them to nearby Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden, which serves many of the same dishes.
Matt Gillan takes over the restaurant of West Sussex pub
Matt Gillan is launching a new dining concept at the Foresters Arms in Horsham. Called Electro Pirate, the former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Midsummer House chef says it will offer diners ‘no fuss, casual dining’. Gillan will remain chef at his Brighton restaurant Pike & Pine.
