Gunmakers – Marylebone
Renowned sommelier and restaurateur, Xavier Rousset (Cabotte, Trade, Blandford Comptoir, Café Comptoir) and chef, Mark Jarvis (Anglo), have joined forces to reopen beloved local Marylebone pub, Gunmakers. A boutique 18th century pub which was infamous for being a favourite haunt of Winston Churchill, the transformation includes a 40-cover restaurant celebrating fine British produce.
The menu will offer inventive twists on pub classics showcasing highest-available quality British meats and produce, including Iberico ‘Pata Negra’ pork chop served with artichoke and coffee purée and English Wagyu Bavette, served with potato rostï and watercress. There is also lighter and vegetarian fare on offer, including a Fillet of seabass served with creamed leeks, and a Celeriac and pea soup served with stilton cheese and caramelised walnuts.
Chez Antoinette – Victoria
Wild Tavern – Chelsea
Getting ready to open rather under the radar in Chelsea is Wild Tavern. Taking over the spot previously occupied by Japanese restaurant Kiru on Elystan Street, this new neighbourhood restaurant is of particular interest because of who’s behind it. It’s the group who brought us Goodmans, Beast and Burger & Lobster.
Billed as an informal neighbourhood restaurant with a focus on seafood dishes, particularly inspired by the Mediterranean, the restaurant plans to serve “feasting plates of wild seafood, grilled meats and classic wines”.
As for that fish, when they say “we will be supplied by our local Chelsea fishmonger” – that’s Rex Goldsmith who’s been working with them since the late, lamented Rex & Mariano and is literally just around the corner from Wild Tavern. They’ll also be bringing in King Crab, Native Lobster, Spanish tuna and meat from Nebraska and here at home in the UK.
In the kitchen are two chefs. The head chef is Marco Peri who comes here via Corbin & King’s Colbert while Sardinian chef Achille Panna is around for the first six months to get things going.
Farm Girl at Hershesons Salon, Harvey Nichols – Knightsbridge
The cafe’s latest outpost – in the new Hershesons salon, on the Fourth Floor of the infamous Harvey Nichols. You’ll find many of the café’s greatest hits, including jackfruit tacos, house granola, coconut BLTs and vegan donuts.
