Rake will run its last service at the Islington pub on 19 December, with the pair having a new independent project in the works.
Claus and Pickhaver arrived at Compton Arms in January 2025 following a residency at The Gun pub in Hackney in 2024. The duo won praise for their old school British cooking using whole-beast butchery and day boat Cornish fish and in March this year was added to the Michelin Guide.
Menu highlights are its ray wing tenders on a homemade crumpet with hot golden syrup; stargazy pie; and beer-battered cockles and clams, as well as a baked oyster that dates back to the duo’s very first pop-up.
“Rake’s ethos, in its current and future form, has always been about hospitality without pretension as much as it is about cooking,” says Claus.
“Our time at the Compton Arms has provided us the opportunity to finesse exactly what that means, cooking generously, drinking well and creating a place where people can relax and spend time with friends. The end of the residency is an evolution rather than an ending for Rake.”
Pickhaver adds: “We’re excited to be turning our attention to a new independent hospitality project we’ve been working towards for 2027.
“The cooking will remain playful and deeply rooted in a sense of place, moving between nostalgic British classics and unexpected interpretations.”