- Chefs Pip Lacey and Calum Franklin will lead the kitchens at three restaurants within the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden. Lacey, formerly of Hicce in Coal Drops Yard and Michelin-starred restaurant Murano, will oversee the food offer at two venues - Gilroy’s Loft and The Porter’s Table - while Franklin will be in charge of the food offer at Old Brewers Yard, a more casual courtyard dining operation that will serve his famous pies. The restaurants are part of the new 54,000sq ft Guinness Open Gate Brewery that will open in Covent Garden’s Old Brewer’s Yard on 11 December.
- Viral jacket potato brand SpudBros has been accused of ‘throwing its weight around’ after it threatened a rival potato player with legal action over its name. Rumen Islam, from recently founded jacket potato brand The Spud Father, has accused SpudBros of trying to stop it from using its name, saying that legal action had ‘taken a real toll — mentally and emotionally’ on him. In a statement, SpudBros says that no lawsuit has been filed against The Spud Father and that the trademark exists to ensure the wording could be used on any future merchandise or franchising opportunities.
- Dan Cox has closed his Michelin-starred farm-to-table restaurant Crocadon and is leaving Crocadon Farm in Cornwall after eight years. Cox took on Crocadon Farm in 2017 and opened his forward-thinking restaurant Crocadon in 2023. It was quickly recognised by Michelin with the awarding of a Green Michelin Star. The following year it gained a Michelin Star, which the restaurant retained until its final service.
- Michelin has insisted its green stars remain part of its recognition of restaurants following a story that it might be dropping them. A spokesperson for the Michelin Guide says that it “is more committed than ever to promoting a community of dedicated chefs, aligned with the challenges of tomorrow’s gastronomy” and that the “green star still exists” as a “complementary recognition to culinary distinctions (red stars)”. The statement follows a story from food writer Nicholas Gill posted on his Substack New Worlder, with the title ‘Michelin Is Quietly Dropping Its Green Stars’ that states that Michelin has removed the green star listings from its website and they have also been removed from the distinctions search.
- Renowned French chef Thierry Laborde is heading up a new high-end seafood restaurant in Mayfair. Opening in London’s Hanover Square, Mazarine, is the latest project from Khaled Dandachi and Fred Srouchi, the restaurateurs behind Mayfair Italian restaurant Sparrow. Laborde’s menu will comprise classic Riviera dishes.