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French
Club Gascon is closing down after 27 years in business
The current business climate for restaurants in London is brutal. And we're particularly sad to be reporting on the demise of one of the city's longer-standing restaurants, Club Gascon.
In an email sent to regulars last night, the restaurant's owners, Chef Pascal Aussignac and Vincent Labeyrie, said that it was "With both gratitude and a heavy heart, we share that Club Gascon will be closing its doors following dinner service on 28 March.
"From the very beginning, our approach to dining was driven by passion and creativity - offering guests the freedom to explore three to
...Test Driving Bistro Sablé - a French pivot makes this former pub now one of Islington's best restaurants
What was once Smokehouse has been transformed into Islington's newest French restaurant, Bistro Sablé. As locals, we went along to see just how the transformation has changed things.
Where to find a Galette des Rois in London
Every January brings with it a reason to go out and eat cake. The Galette des Rois is a French creation designed to celebrate Epiphany. If you're searching for one in London this January, here's where to start...
Test Driving Maset - The Lurra team turn French on Chiltern Street
The team behind Basque-inspired successes Lurra and Donostia have turned to Coastal France for their latest, opening on Chiltern Street. We went to one of Marylebone's fanciest streets to check it out.
Mazarine in Mayfair sees an ex-LPM chef taking coastal French cooking to Hanover Square
French restaurants have been a booming business on London's dining scene in 2025, and the latest to join that trend is Mazarine.
This comes from the team behind Sparrow Italia and is run by ex-LPM chef Thierry Laborde (who was previously head chef of Le Gavroche). It's taking a southern/coastal approach to French cooking, so expect things here to have
...Hyped Parisian gluten-free bakery Copains is opening in London
They've long held a reputation as being one of the best places in Paris to enjoy gluten-free breads and pastries. Now Parisian bakery chain Copains has set its sight on London. To kick off their cross-Channel takeover, they're starting with two bakery openings, in Covent Garden and Islington. Both will be the brand's first bakeries outside of Paris.
In Covent Garden, they've taken over the lease of a shop
...Bistro Sablé is a French bistro taking over from Smokehouse in Islington
Islington locals will be well aware of Smokehouse, the pub/restaurant on Canonbury Road that's been open for just over a decade (originally launched by Neil Rankin). And that's particularly because of its lovely terrace, hidden from the busy road by plenty of greenery.
Well, now Smokehouse's time is up as it's just been replaced by something quite different. It's
...If you loved Lurra and Donostia, Maset on Chiltern Street hopes to do the same for coastal French food
It's all happening on Chiltern Street at the moment. The Hart has just opened its doors. Work is underway at reopening Chiltern Firehouse after the fire. And now Melody Adams, the restaurateur behind Spanish restaurants Lurra and Donostia, is getting ready to open her third restaurant in Marylebone.
Her previous ventures have taken their lead from the
...Snails and Paris Brest on the menu at new Parson's Green bistro La Bouffe
While we all might like to be able to gallivant across the Channel to France for food at the drop of a beret, it's just not practical. So there's nothing better for lovers of Gallic cuisine than a promising new French restaurant opening in their part of town. That means the folks in Fulham must be feeling pretty smug right now at the arrival of La Bouffe on their doorsteps.
The duo behind this new bistro, husband and
...Test Driving Richoux, the return of the classic French restaurant and patisserie
Classic French restaurant (and patisserie) Richoux has returned to London. This Fitzrovia restaurant is just the beginning, so we went down to see just what the modern version of Richoux has to offer.
Richoux is coming back to London with a very French all-day café
14/8/25 - updated with the opening date
Back in 2021, one of the early casualties of Lockdown was cafe and patisserie Richoux. When its owner went into administration, all the Richoux sites closed. The name was briefly revived for a Piccadilly opening that was more of a restaurant, but that also closed a few years later.
Now, the people who bought
...Test driving Marjorie's - a wine bar with lots of Parisian style in Soho
Marjorie's in Soho combines a wine bar with a menu of French small plates and is just what Soho needs. We went down to try it out...
Stylish restaurant Chez Lui in Notting Hill is the start of a new French-inspired restaurant group
You may know Bagatelle Group from their eponymous Bagatelle restaurant in Mayfair (and many others around the world), but they're about to try something new for their next opening. They're launching restaurants as part of a new group, La Bistrot Collection, and the first of those is getting ready to open in Notting Hill.
Chez Lui is taking
...74 Duke is a Parisian-style brasserie in Mayfair from the people behind Supernova
18/5/25 - updated with the opening date
The team behind Supernova, Creme and North Audley Canteen know how to make a big splash with their openings. The original Supernova was a massive hit and it looks like their upcoming Mayfair outpost will be
...Test Driving Duchy, taking the Leroy space in a great new French/Italian direction
Two people who used to work at Leroy have taken over their former workplace and relaunched it as a new restaurant, inspired by the French/Italian Duchy of Savoy. We went down to see just how much has changed.
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