Updated 28/2/24 with the opening date
Jeremy King is about to have a very busy 2024. The well-known restaurateur who opened The Wolseley, The Delaunay, Brasserie Zedel is opening three restaurants this year and the first of them is something of a remake - as he's taken over the old Le Caprice site in St James. He can't actually call it by its previous name (after all, Caring may be bringing Le Caprice back), so instead the restaurant will be called Arlington.
For those of you who aren't up on your London restaurant lore, this is the restaurant that first launched Jeremy's career with his long-term business partner Chris Corbin. They took it over back in 1981 and became a legendary dining spot attracting the likes of Princess Diana and Elton John. In 2005 it was sold to Richard Caring as part of the Caprice Holdings empire but became one of the big restaurant victims of Covid.
Just as well-known as the restaurant's customers was its GM Jesus Adorno. As Jeremy said in a letter; "When Le Caprice closed with the arrival of the pandemic, [he] had completed 38 years service and was disappointed not to have passed the four-decade mark.
"Therefore I am delighted to tell you that he will now have the opportunity to complete that amazing feat because I have just signed a lease for the site and he will be joining me as we aim to recreate a restaurant that for many of our customers over the years was the one they professed their greatest love for."
King was at pains to say that this isn't just going to be a rerun of an old favourite. "It will of course be a new version but I hope you will find it reassuringly familiar in how it looks, and what we serve." Later missives from King made it clear that, although the kitchen is getting a big refit, they're making pains to keep it as close to the original style of Le Caprice, including a refreshed portfolio of David Bailey photos, while still making it all look brand new. So you should really expect a 2024 version of the classic Le Caprice in all but name.
As for the menu, that's currently under wraps. Will the salmon fishcakes with sorrel sauce make a comeback? We'll have to wait and see.
More about Arlington
Where is it? 20 Arlington St, St. James's, London SW1A 1RJ
When does it open? 11 March 2024
Find out more: Visit the website and follow on Instagram @arlingtonrestaurant.
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