New opening

The people behind Kricket are getting ready to open something new, and quite different from before. This time it's a standalone basement bar in Soho, called SOMA, taking over the building right next door to Kricket Soho (which used to be a club and karaoke bar). 

SOMA will still carry on the Indian influences that you'll see in Kricket, and more besides with drinks

It's been a while since we've had a big opening in Stratford (Patrick Powell's Allegra being the most successful) but D&D (the people behind The German Gymnasium, Bluebird, Coq D'Argent, Launceston Place and lots, lots more) are opening one of the biggest restaurants there

The people who brought London Casa Do Frango are now turning their attention to Cuba. Bar La Rampa will be dedicated to all things Cuban, aiming for an authentic evocation of the country. In charge of the menu are the people behind TA TA Eatery and, yes, there will be Cuban sandwiches. 

24/6/21 - updated with soft launch info

Next up for Tom Kerridge in London, is a very different type of venture. This time he's teaming up with Mark Emms to create Bad Vegan, which will be coming to the top floor of Camden's Buck Street Market. 

The "bad" part of the name comes from the fact that although the menu will be predominantly vegan - they will actually have non-vegan

Sunday in Brooklyn has been a big hit in New York - and they're the latest NYC restaurant to make a splash in Notting Hill. They'll have dishes from the original restaurant (including the famed pancakes) and a big focus on brunch. 

Sambrooks Brewery are getting ready to unveil their big new brewery taproom, Sambrooks Brewery Tap, in Wandsworth and they've brought in Crust Bros to be in charge of the food. This is the second location for Crust Bros, and they'll have to up their pizza-making rate as this is a pretty big taproom, able to seat up to 160 (including a large outdoor terrace).

The

If oh-so-Instagrammable drinks and cakes are your deal, then you'll be wanting to hotfoot it to Marylebone next week where a very photogenic-sounding cafe is opening.

How Matcha! - the clue is in the name - will be ALL about matcha, whether that's in cake or tea form. The drinks have been created so they're as good hot as they are on ice, which will be handy for days on which the British summer deigns to show

Opening this month in the old Shep's spot next to Chick 'n' Sours is The Duchess of Dalston. And while new bars are a pound a penny in this part of Dalston, the provenance of this particular bar bodes well.

It's from the team who brought us Callooh Callay and Islington's Little Bat bar. They're going big on locality and community - which means sourcing local ingredients for their drinks and using the

They may be gearing up to opening their main restaurant in Soho, but that's not all we're getting from Rita's. Their sandwich offshoot Bodega Rita's is coming back too - this time opening in Clerkenwell.

There's a new menu of American-style subs that includes:

• The Tony - deli sub filled with pesto, prosciutto, spiced salami ventricina, smoked cheese,

Junsei is all about yakitori skewers cooked over Binchōtan Japanese Charcoal. There are over 20 skewers available, not to mention charcoal seared Wagyu and more...

 London's hotel scene is a barometer of the city's health. Judging by what's coming our way, it's in rosy health with all manner of hotels with interesting bars and restaurants you'll want to know about.

They've already opened in Notting Hill and Fitzrovia and now Eggslut continue their eastwards journey with a restaurant in Shoreditch. 

If you're unfamiliar with them, let us get you up to speed. They hail from Los Angeles and as you might expect from their name, they're really all about eggs. The main events are the eggy buns in particular, which include the following (all served up in brioche

Taking the space on Berkeley street once held by Nobu, Il Borro Tuscan Bistro is a high-end Italian restaurant with strong links to a Tuscan estate and farm. And they even have their own wines.

Firefighter turned food entrepreneur Nick Scallan is behind new Islington high end grocery store and food hall, The Boutique Grocer which has just opened in the Islington Square development off Upper Street.

The luxury food retailer will serve up everything from shrub mixers and coffee from The Roasting Shed to organic fruit and veg and other products.

But it's also going to be somewhere to dine in, launching with

Coming to South Kensington is Nocturne, a new underground cocktail bar, underneath a restaurant whose own opening was a little below the radar. 

The wine bar first. That's Old Brompton, a wine and cheese bar from Xavier Rousset (Cabotte, Black Book, Cafe Comptoir and more) and Steve Pineau and opened this April.