Gordon Ramsay: “Influencers are the most powerful critics on the planet today”
They are loved and loathed in almost equal measure by the restaurant industry, but the world’s most famous chef is unequivocal about his respect for influencers.
Fine Dining
Good vibrations: Charlie Mellor’s Soho second act
The creator of The Laughing Heart is back with Osteria Vibrato, a 45-cover Greek Street trattoria that is looking to offer the ‘most mind-blowing hospitality in town’.
Bánh Bánh Brixton reimagined by House of Baby
Bánh Bánh Brixton will reopen next month following an overhaul by artist duo House of Baby and a new menu developed by AP Nguyen.
Eduardo Yishima and Jackson Boxer to relaunch Notting Hill stalwart Taqueria
Chefs Eduardo Yishima and Jackson Boxer are joining forces to relaunch longstanding Notting Hill Mexican restaurant Taqueria.
Shoreditch restaurant Nest to rebrand as more informal bistro concept
East London restaurant Nest will close late next month to make way for a new, more informal British bistro concept, Tavern.
Connor Gadd confirms opening date for first solo venture
Connor Gadd has confirmed that his debut solo restaurant will open on 11 March.
Portsmouth City Council seeks new operator for Spinnaker Tower
Portsmouth City Council has appointed property agent Colliers to secure a new operator for Spinnaker Tower.
Ben Miller appointed head chef at Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal
Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal has promoted Ben Miller as head chef, following the restaurant’s retention of two Michelin stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Latest opening: The Crazy Goose
Brighton and Hove-based restaurateur Raz Helalat has converted his original Coal Shed premises into a slick new pub concept.
Clio to bring modern Greek dining to Marylebone
Modern Greek restaurant Clio is set to open in Marylebone this March.
Comment
2026 trends? Here’s what we hope is confined to the scrapheap this year
Two-sip cocktails, extreme eating challenges and undercooked steak can do one.
Sally Abé to open debut solo restaurant
Chef Sally Abé is taking over the former Sesta site in Hackney for her debut solo venture.
Table for two? Valentine’s bookings up by almost a third
Restaurant bookings for Valentine’s Day are up 30% year-on-year across the UK, according to new data, with people looking beyond the traditional two-top reservation.
Uncorked: Giles Coram
The founder of Bristol’s Caper & Cure and the more recently opened Carmen Street Wine on Bistro Paul Bert, Baden winery La Boussole and Raul Moreno.
National Restaurant Awards Rising Stars to be revealed this month
A spotlight will be thrown on emerging talent in the hospitality sector later this month when the National Restaurant Awards (NRA) Rising Stars Awards will be announced.
Fire walk with me: the restaurateur bringing an overlooked branch of Chinese cuisine to Surrey Quays
Hunan cuisine is a pillar of Chinese food culture but remains largely unknown in the UK. Winston Xu discusses how Fiery Flavors is introducing it to London diners, and the structural challenges facing authentic Chinese cooking.
How I Got Here: Simon Piovesan
The founder of Italian restaurant 2 Veneti in Marylebone, which this year celebrates 20 years, on leading by example and taking nothing for granted.
Orrery by Pierre Minotti to open in the spring with stars in its eyes
Marylebone restaurant Orrery will reopen as Orrery by Pierre Minotti in the spring following its refurbishment.
Haiyaa! Uncle Roger to launch Chinatown restaurant
Malaysian-born comedian and online personality Uncle Roger is opening a restaurant in London’s Chinatown this April.
Michelin deletions confirmed
Michelin has confirmed the restaurants that have lost their stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026.
Joel Pennington named 2026 Gold Service Scholarship Scholar
Joel Pennington, restaurant manager at The Cottage in the Wood in the Lake District, has been named the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship Scholar.
Michelin names Tom Earnshaw as Young Chef of the Year 2026
Tom Earnshaw from Bohemia restaurant in Jersey has been named Young Chef of the Year at the 2026 Britain & Ireland Michelin awards.
Michelin Guide 2026: Row on 5 and Bonheur by Matt Abé win two stars
Jason Atherton and Spencer Metzger’s Row on 5 restaurant on Savile Row and Bonheur by Matt Abé in Mayfair were both awarded two Michelin stars at the unveiling of the Michelin Great Britain & Ireland Guide 2026.
Restaurant radar: February 2026
This month’s key openings include a pizza restaurant that offers a tasting menu and a new project from the team behind Goodman and Beast.
Cooper’s Cut to open in former Le Dame de Pic space in March
More details have been revealed about the steakhouse that will open in the space formerly occupied by Le Dame de Pic at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 to be held in Abu Dhabi in November
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in Abu Dhabi in November, it has been announced.
Liz Cottam’s ‘gastrobar’ Emba to close
Liz Cottam has announced that her Leeds ‘gastrobar’ Emba will close this spring.
Latest opening: MATER1A
Victor Garvey’s latest project is described as ‘the restaurant he’s always wanted’.
Clerkenwell stalwart Club Gascon to close next month after nearly 30 years
Pascal Aussignac will close his Michelin-starred Smithfield Market restaurant, Club Gascon, at the end of next month.
Uncorked: Donald Edwards
The sommelier at Canary Wharf Turkish restaurant Nora on 1983 Margaux, Queena Wong and his mission to champion Anatolian wines.
Camilla Long named restaurant critic for The Sunday Times
Camilla Long has been named as the new restaurant critic for The Sunday Times, taking over from Charlotte Ivers.
Putting Rockliffe Hall on the map: James and Maria Close unveil ATLAS
James and Maria Close have unveiled details of their new signature restaurant at Rockliffe Hall, the County Durham hotel and leisure resort.
Latest opening: Tobi Masa at The Rosewood Omakase
Chef Masayoshi ‘Masa’ Takayama has opened a seven-seat omakase counter at his hotel restaurant.
The Beckford Group acquires the Bradley Hare in Wiltshire
The Beckford Group has acquired the Bradley Hare in Wiltshire, taking its portfolio in the south west to six sites.
New ‘maverick restaurant’ to open at Six Senses London
A vegetable-forward restaurant will open at Six Senses London hotel at The Whiteley.
Michael O’Hare: “I’ve got more degrees in dance than I do in cooking”
With his new restaurant In Lamentation about to open, the former The Man Behind the Curtain chef patron discusses his return to the kitchen, the current state of fine dining, and why he’s doubling down on his avant-garde approach to cooking.
SIX Rooftop closes amid ‘difficult trading conditions’
The top-floor fine dining restaurant at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has closed its doors citing sustained losses and a tough economic climate.
The Sea, The Sea to move to larger Chelsea location
Chelsea seafood bar and fishmonger The Sea, The Sea will relocate to a larger site on Pavilion Road this spring.
Country Creatures duo reveal more details on upcoming Cotswolds pub
Country Creatures founders Sam and Georgie Pearman have unveiled further details of the team and food offering at their upcoming pub, The Wild Duck Inn.
Specialist Lanzhou beef noodle restaurant launches on the Strand
Linhui Hu and Ziqi Wang have opened a Chinese restaurant on London’s Strand specialising in Lanzhou beef noodles.
Star gazing: our predictions for Michelin’s 2026 guide
With Michelin to reveal its latest Great Britain & Ireland guide next week, we give our predictions on its new starred entries.
The Spiteri brothers to return with West London pub
Fin and Lorcan Spiteri are returning to the London dining scene having taken on the former Ariadne’s Nectar pub at 274 Latimer Road.
The overseas restaurant brands making their way to the UK this year
International groups promising fried chicken, French brasserie food and mid-century dining are among those looking to make a name for themselves on UK soil.
Latest opening: Tiella Trattoria & Bar
Dara Klein’s long-held dream of running her own bricks-and-mortar restaurant has finally come true.
The Set bets on bijou with 12-cover permanent Brighton site
Brighton chefs Dan Kenny and Marcin Miasik have secured a permanent site for their long-running tasting-menu concept The Set, taking over the former Kitgum Kitchen premises on Preston Road.
Christina Mouratoglou and Adrien Carré to open modern Greek restaurant Maza
Husband-and-wife team Christina Mouratoglou and Adrien Carré will open their latest restaurant venture this spring.
Caprice Holdings to open namesake restaurant at The Chancery Rosewood London this year
A job listing posted on LinkedIn has confirmed that Caprice Holdings will open Caprice restaurant at The Chancery Rosewood London later this year.
Uncorked: Marco Nardi
The sommelier at Notting Hill’s Caractère on Pascaline Lepeltier, Spaghetti alla Carbonara and a wine list shaped by the French and Italian heritage of the restaurant’s owners.
Trivet appoints Adam Tooby-Desmond as head chef
Adam Tooby-Desmond has been appointed head chef at Trivet, the two Michelin-starred restaurant in Bermondsey.
Latest opening: DakaDaka
Modern food from ancient Georgia is on the menu at this charming Mayfair restaurant.