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London — and its hospitality industry — is some way from a return to its pre-pandemic order. But one sign of a semblance of normality having resumed is the steady flow of new opening announcements, many of which were on course to arrive in 2020 but whose timelines were interrupted by the coronavirus crisis. With the caveat that these dates are subject to change, here’s the definitive list of notable upcoming openings in 2021 (and beyond), in order of anticipated launch. This list will be updated constantly.
JANUARY 2022
Vergine Maria
Address: 15 St. Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5RA
Key people: Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio.
What to expect: Vegan pizza and other dishes from the founders of Santa Maria, taking over its original restaurant.
Projected opening: January 2022
Forno
Address: Vyner Street, Hackney E2 9DG
Key people: Mitshel Ibrahim, chef-owner of the original Ombra.
What to expect: A pasta and charcuterie production site that will be open to the public for pastries, soups, and Roman pizza, in the vein of London Fields favourite E5 Bakehouse.
Projected opening: January 2022
FEBRUARY 2022
Blacklock
Address: Henrietta Street, Covent Garden WC2E 8QH
Key people: Gordon Ker’s group.
What to expect: Incredible steak, brilliant Sunday roasts, accompanied by the crispiest dripping-fried chips.
Projected opening: 7 February 2022
Lahpet Covent Garden
Address: 21 Slingsby Place, Covent Garden WC2E 9AB
Key people: Dan Anton and Zaw Mahesh.
What to expect: Expansion for the Burmese group, with a mixture of confirmed favourites from its Shoreditch location and new dishes, too.
Projected opening: 7 February 2022
Cedric Grolet at the Berkeley
Address: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge SW1X 7RL
Key people: Cedric Grolet, of eponymous patisserie boutiques in Paris.
What to expect: Trompe l’œil fruits and elegant flowers, and a whole load of influencers.
Projected opening: 14 February 2022
The Ledbury
Address: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill W11 2AQ
Key people: Brett Graham
What to expect: A revamp and redesign for the legendary, formerly two-Michelin-starred restaurant. This will definitely extend to the dining room and building, but Graham’s tasting menu will endure.
Projected opening: February 2022
Arcade Food Hall
Address: 103 — 105 New Oxford Street, WC2H 8LH
Key people: JKS Restaurants, the group behind Gymkhana, Trishna, Hoppers, Bao, Lyle’s, and many of the capital’s most successful restaurants.
What to expect: An entirely new suite of restaurants and kitchens for the site formerly known as Arcade Food Theatre.
Projected opening: February 2022
SPRING 2022
Tatale
Address: 66 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark SE1 0BL
Key people: Akwasi Brenya-Mensa.
What to expect: A self-consciously pan-African restaurant, designed to provoke conversation and cross-pollination between different cultural disciplines.
Projected opening: Spring 2022
Apricity
Address: 68 Duke Street, Mayfair, W1K 6JU
Key people: Chef Chantelle Nicholson, formerly of Tredwell’s and All’s Well.
What to expect: A restaurant focused on sustainability — both from the point of view of food waste and conscious sourcing and the mental health and wellbeing of its employees.
Projected opening: March 2022
Sichuan Fry and Dumpling Shack
Address: 2 Westgate Street, London Fields E8 3RN
Key people: John and Yee Li.
What to expect: A first full restaurant for one of London’s most queued-for street food hits, with Sichuan fried chicken on the ground floor and crisp, soupy shengjianbao in the basement.
Projected opening: April 2022
Lisboeta
Address: 30 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia WC1B 4AF
Key people: Chef Nuno Mendes and backers MJMK, also behind Casa do Frango and Kol.
What to expect: A two-level “love letter to Lisbon.” which will entail an inventive downstairs kitchen and more of an homage to Portugal in the main restaurant.
Projected opening: Spring 2022
Holloway Model Bakery
Address: 66 George’s Road, Holloway N7 8HX
Key people: Michelle Eshkeri, founder of Margot Bakery in East Finchley.
What to expect: A bakery focussed on sweet, leavened breads particularly in the Jewish tradition — best expressed by its formidable sourdough babka.
Projected opening: Spring 2022
AngloThai
Address: TBD
Key people: John and Desiree Chantarasak.
What to expect: A central London home for one of the most exciting exponents of uncynical “fusion” cooking out there, whose push-pull between the language of Thai cooking and its traditions and British ingredients resolves its tensions in thrilling dishes.
Projected opening: Spring 2022
LATER
Aragawa
Address: 38 Clarges Street, Mayfair W1J 7EN
Key people: Mitsuya Yamada.
What to expect: A laser-like focus on high quality Kobe beef, with an austere supporting cast of luxury ingredient sides.
Projected opening: 2022
Lina Stores
Address: 68 Wigmore Street, Marylebone W1U 2SD
Key people: Backer White Rabbit Projects, alongside the storied brand.
What to expect: More green-hued designs and fresh pasta.
Projected opening: 2022
Socca
Address: 41A South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 2PS
Key people: Claude Bosi and Samyukta Nair
What to expect: Breezy French Riviera cuisine from the esteemed French chef.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Manzi’s
Address: 1 Bateman’s Buildings, Soho W1D 3EN
Key people: Jeremy King and Chris Corbin of The Wolseley, The Delaunay, et alia.
What to expect: A huge seafood restaurant in the heart of Soho, in the affordable luxury guise that the duo do so well.
Projected opening: 2022
Frantzen
Address: Harrods, 87 — 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW1X 7XL
Key people: Björn Frantzén, of the three-Michelin-starred Stockholm restaurant that bears his surname.
What to expect: A shrine to international gastrotourism.
Projected opening: Autumn 2022
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London
Address: The Old War Office, Whitehall SW1A 2EU
Key people: Mauro Colagreco, of three-Michelin-starred Mirazur.
What to expect: A trio of restaurants overseen by the garlanded chef, including a brasserie, a fine dining restaurant, and a chef’s table.
Projected opening: 2022