Launched by Daniel in 2022, the fine dining restaurant relocated to a more prominent location in the south coast city towards the end of last year.
The Umbel restaurant group is made up of 10 restaurants, including Simon’s three-Michelin-star Lake District flagship L’Enclume, as well as overseas sites in Hong Kong, Malta and Thailand.
AO by Daniel Rogan will sit within the same division as Manchester’s Skof by Tom Barnes, reflecting Simon’s support for the next generation of hospitality talent in developing their own restaurants.
AO by Daniel Rogan, which seats 32 covers, “prioritises seasonality, sustainability and commitment to only working with the best suppliers” and offers tasting menus of three different lengths.
Later this month, the restaurant’s kitchen will move to the ground floor, allowing customers to see the chefs cooking and enabling Daniel to better oversee the dining room.
Becoming part of Umbel will be marked by a one-off event, Rogan x Rogan, which will see father and son cook together between 30 April and 2 May.
Centred on provenance and guided by Simon’s Lake District roots and Daniel’s south coast location, Rogan x Rogan is described as a celebration of their shared gastronomic values.
“It will be my first time cooking in Southampton in a long time and I cannot wait,” Simon says. “To be doing it alongside Daniel in his own restaurant makes it even more special. The menus will bring together the influences of the Lake District and the South Coast, celebrating the seasonal produce we both care so much about.”
Daniel adds: “It means a lot to have my Dad cooking at AO for the first time. Our cooking styles share the same foundations but have developed in different places, so bringing them together for a few days feels really special. AO is still at the beginning of its journey, and it’s exciting to be building something in Southampton and showing people what we’re doing here. There’s plenty more to come.”