Queuers’ Paradise Dishoom Will Expand Into Former Jamie’s Italian in Covent Garden

Indian cafe chain benefits from Jamie Oliver’s restaurant woes

Dishoom, the London queuers’ paradise and bacon naan specialist, will expand its Covent Garden restaurant into the former Jamie’s Italian restaurant next door, in the wake of the collapse of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire. The move, billed as an ambitious redesign as part of the restaurant’s tenth anniversary celebration but also necessarily expedient given the circumstances, is, in the restaurant group’s words, “a significant expansion.” It’s not yet clear whether the restaurant will close as part of the refurb. [Richard Vines/Twitter]

And in other news...

• Bubala looks to be a promising, Tel-Aviv-inspired opening in east London.
• Beck at Brown’s says goodbye to chef Heinz Beck, as Adam Byatt of Michelin-starred Trinity in Clapham takes over from September.
• Pizza chain Franco Manca continues to grow, seemingly unimpeded by the market conditions that have crippled so many chains. [Propel]
• A Fuller’s pub in Farringdon is putting fried chicken on ice cream, because publicity stunts know no bounds. [Metro]
• Chef Tom Griffiths of Flank — at the Kitchens in Spitalfields and Market Halls Victoria — says his next restaurant will offer “authentic American barbecue.” [Big Hospitality]
• Good tweet: