It's been three long years since we first reported on the fight for survival of one of London's oldest restaurants. Now there's good (and bad) news. On the upside, the historic tavern is getting ready to open its doors again for the first time since 2022. The other good thing is that the team who are taking it on, Joe Haynes, Ben Butterworth and Tom Hurst who also run Smithfield favourite Cloth, know a thing or two about running a restaurant in a historic building. The OG Cloth is also in an 18th-century building.
To that end, they're going to be restoring the restaurant's gorgeous interior - think panelled walls, wooden booths and fireplaces. All that is going to take a bit of time, so right now there's no official word on what the food will be here. That said, they are promising that chops and steaks will be among the dishes paying homage to the tavern's traditional offering.
But there's no getting away from the fact that this is a bittersweet moment for the original Simpson's Tavern team, who have lost their fight to continue in the space. And, as a result, the 18th-century spot will no longer bear the name Simpson's Tavern due to legal reasons.
"We're very excited to be taking on the stewardship of this beloved institution," say the Cloth team. "The City has long missed the hubbub of Ball Court and we feel extremely privileged to bring it back to life."
More about Cloth Cornhill
Where is it? 38 1/2 Cornhill, London EC3V 9DR
When does it open? 2026
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @clothrestaurant
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