As first reported by The Standard, the group has applied to Kensington & Chelsea Council for an alcohol licence and planning permission at 186 Portobello Road.
The four storey Victorian property was previously occupied by the Portobello Gin Distillery and included a basement distillery, blending rooms, history room and a ‘Ginstitute’.
Permit Room is positioned as being a more drinks-led counterpoint to Dishoom’s core restaurant brand, and takes its influence from the ‘permit rooms, beer bars and drinking holes’ of 1960s and 1970s Bombay.
It opened its first site in Brighton in late 2023 and followed this with locations in Cambridge and Oxford last year.
A spokesperson for Dishoom told The Standard: “Dishoom is pleased to be opening its first-ever Permit Room in London, opening on Portobello Road in Notting Hill in spring 2025, following successful openings in Brighton, Oxford and Cambridge.”
Speaking to Restaurant late last year, Dishoom’s newly promoted CEO Brian Trollip described Permit Room as being a more guest-led experience when compared to the group’s concept.
“We are restaurateurs at heart and enjoy the fact that food is the heart of permit rooms in Bombay,” he said.
“Permit Room is different to Dishoom, it is a really fun all-day eating and drinking space – there is definitely a Dishoom feel to it, but it is a distinct experience.
“It’s a relaxed all-day space whereas Dishoom is quite curated – every single part of your journey is managed, whereas Permit Room is much more guest led. You can pop in and use it as you want at any point of the day.”
Dishoom operates 10 restaurants under its core brand including several sites in London and regional locations in Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
