Test Drives

Carnaby has an appealing new Spanish bar celebrating croquetas. We went to work our way through the list...

Following up on their success in King's Cross, Hicce's Pip Lacey and Gordy McIntyre have come to Islington with something quite different in Hicce Hart. We popped down to see how they've adapted this neighbourhood pub. 

  You may already know about Side Hustle - but the NoMad London in Covent Garden now has another pretty big new lounge bar in the basement. We paid it a visit.  

Suitable for ramen slurping lunches or sushi suppers this new Liverpool Street Japanese spot hits the mark.

Eline sees an ex-Pophams duo taking on their own venture in Hackney, featuring a stellar combination of seasonal cooking (with French roots) and a very accessible natural wine list. We headed down to try it out.  

This new Soho tapas spot brings in the freshest Scottish seafood and uses them in Spanish tapas classics.

Henry Harris has returned to the stoves with his revival of Racine as a bouchon in Farringdon. We went to see if the magic was still there. 

  Top chef Phil Howard has entered the fresh pasta game with Notto. We went down to Piccadilly to see how it shapes up against London's already pretty great fresh pasta restaurants.   

Barely an hour's flight from London you'll find this five star Irish resort hotel complete with stunning new restaurant and plenty to keep you busy for a short break. 

An extraordinary new restaurant has opened, just across the Irish sea. We went to check out the hugely ambitious Terre at Castlemartyr resort in County Cork. 

Top chef Bjorn Frantzen has arrived in Harrods with a huge restaurant devoted to his Nordic/Asian cuisine - and a new rooftop to boot. We went down to Knightsbridge to check it out. 

Cycene sees chef Theo Clench take over at Shoreditch's Blue Mountain School with an inventive tasting menu and a whole new look for the space. We head down to try it out. 

All the way from Boston, this US import is hoping to make itself an indispensable seafood spot for anyone shopping on Oxford Street. 

  Adam Smith has taken his restaurant in Ascot's Coworth Park to a whole new level. We take a look at the plush surroundings before checking out the brand-new Woven. 

The Berkeley has launched a new wintry pop-up - and this one is based on a classic pub. We went along for beer, scotch eggs and to see how they've managed to evoke a proper British pub in the heart of Knightsbridge.  

La Rampa brings a Cuban flavour to Oxford Circus with their unique take on Cuban food classics and cocktails - plus lots of rum... 

This new bar at this Whitehall hotel showcases the many talents of top mixologist Salvatore Calabrese. We popped in for a tipple or two.

Given the current cost of living crisis we're all for a new wine bar that's bringing down the cost of drinking good wine.