Smoking Goat to open second site in Shoreditch
Anglo-Thai food pioneers Ben Chapman and Brian Hannon have revealed plans to open a second Smoking Goat in November. With head chef Ali Borer and general manager Dan Bennett, the new Smoking Goat in Shoreditch will be bigger than the Soho original and based on late night Bangkok canteens. Diners can expect larger dishes, including noodles, skewers, barbecue and sharing dishes. smokinggoatsoho.com
Steve Drake returns with new restaurant in Dorking
Good Food Guide regular Steve Drake, who left Drake’s in Ripley during the summer of 2016, has opened his new restaurant. Sorrel in Dorking will offer seasonal tasting menus with dishes such as turbot, broccoli, Gewürztraminer mussels and miso butter, and Etherley Farm duck, mushroom cous cous, ras el hanout, golden broth and liver toast. sorrelrestaurant.co.uk
Club Gascon reopens after major refurbishment
Veteran Smithfield restaurant Club Gascon reopens on October 17 after a major refurbishment and new look. The Modern French restaurant, which was opened by chef Pascal Aussignac in 1998, will have a new private dining room and a new five or seven-course dinner menu. clubgascon.com
Ex-Outlaw’s chef Tom Brown to open his first restaurant
After heading up the kitchen at Outlaw’s at The Capital for the past two years, chef Tom Brown has left to open his own restaurant. Spring 2018 will see Tom open Cornerstone in Hackney Wick, East London, where he says he will continue to showcase his simple and clean style of cooking.
Former Eipic chef Danni Barry goes solo
Top Northern Ireland chef Danni Barry has left Deane’s Eipic in Belfast to run a family-run village restaurant that has been closed for two years. Clenaghans in Aghalee, County Antrim, is due to open in November.
Paradise Garage - London
Bethnal Green restaurant Paradise Garage has closed its doors, although owner/chef Robin Gill says he plans to open in a more central London location. Paradise Garage opened to rave reviews in 2015 after Gill made his name with Clapham restaurants the Dairy and the Manor.
Vineet Bhatia - London
Vineet Bhatia has closed his eponymous Chelsea restaurant although says there are plans to reopen it in an unconfirmed new location. vineetbhatia.com
HKK - London
Shoreditch restaurant HKK has closed after five years, with owners Hakkasan Group focussing on its expansion overseas. hkklondon.com
