News & reviews

Hugh Hefner returns to London to open Playboy Club in Mayfair

Information: 20 October 2010

We can't tell whether this is a sign that we're all going to hell in a handbasket, or that London - despite the Spending Review - is booming, but Hugh Hefner is returning to these shores to reopen...

2010 London Restaurant Festival Awards - the winners

Information: 19 October 2010

Rising stars of London’s restaurant industry joined seasoned pros as the London Restaurant Festival 2010 came to a glittering conclusion last night. Casual Soho eateries mingled with fine dining...

London Chocolate Week tasting at L'Artisan Du Chocolat

Information: 16 October 2010

This week, London had a sweet and creamy answer to those tired out by the hedonistic pleasures of London cocktail week – the simultaneous celebration of London Chocolate Week. Some enterprising bars...

Observer Food Monthly Awards 2010 winners announced

Information: 15 October 2010

The great and the greedy turned out last night for the annual Observer Food Monthly awards at the Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden. Hot Dinners spotted chefs Pierre Koffmann, Benares' Atul Kocchar...

Jamie Oliver wants more women chefs in top restaurants

Information: 15 October 2010

He's a busy chap is Jamie Oliver - not only was he working too hard to accept his award for Best Food Personality at the Observer Food Monthly Awards last night because he was filming in Yorkshire,...

Tanqueray hold a dinner for London Cocktail Week

Information: 14 October 2010

As sore heads all over town celebrate another London Cocktail Week, classic gin brand Tanqueray kept the drinks flowing with an upscale dinner at Babylon Restaurant at the Kensington Roof Gardens...

Is French cuisine a spent force? The Big Debate reviewed

Information: 14 October 2010

Have you ever arrived back from enjoying the delightful boulangeries and charcuteries of France, only to be greeted in Gatwick by the depressing smell of “abattoir slurry” that, according to food...

Exclusive: Inside look on what to expect at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

Information: 13 October 2010

There's really no competition: 2011's most anticipated restaurant by a city mile has got to be Heston Blumenthal's new restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. So when Hot Dinners...

Preparing Heston's Blumenthal's Dinner - an exclusive interview with Ashley Palmer Watts

Information: 12 October 2010

Hot Dinners gets a red-hot exclusive on what we can expect at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal from its Head Chef Ashley Palmer Watts

Ledbury ousts The Fat Duck as UK's No 1 restaurant

Information: 12 October 2010

Notting Hill restaurant The Ledbury has ousted The Fat Duck from its spot as National Restaurant of the Year, according to Restaurant Magazine. In their 2010 awards, announced in London tonight, The...

Anne Robinson chairs London Restaurant Festival Big Quiz

Information: 12 October 2010

Quizmeister Anne Robinson cowed the unruly masses at the London Restaurant Festival's Big Quiz last night which was held at Le Cafe Anglais. Changing tack from last year's festival quiz which pitted...

Angela Hartnett buys Murano from Gordon Ramsay

Information: 11 October 2010

It's been the poorest-held secret in restaurant circles that Angela Hartnett wanted her freedom. Today she finally announced that she's buying her restaurant Murano from Gordon Ramsay Holdings and...

Anthony Demetre on Arbutus, Wild Honey and the opening of Les Deux Salons

Information: 08 October 2010

Chef Anthony Demetre is best known for the highly successful Soho and Mayfair restaurants he runs with partner Will Smith, Arbutus and Wild Honey. On the eve of the opening of the duo's new...

Bompas & Parr's chewing gum factory for Whiteley's

Information: 08 October 2010

They've often been likened to modern-day Willy Wonka's now foodie experience-creators Bompas & Parr are going to be opening an pop-up Chewing Gum Factory at Whiteleys Shopping Centre in Bayswater for a...

A-list chef turnout for Michelin Editor's retirement party

Information: 06 October 2010

There was an astonishingly A-list chef turnout last night at Brown's Hotel at a party for the retiring Editor of the Michelin Guide, Derek Bulmer. Brown's, as Bulmer explained, was chosen as it was...

Mark Hix and Pierre Gagnaire headline chefs at London Frieze

Information: 05 October 2010

Visitors to this year's Frieze Art Fair in Regent's Park won't have a problem finding somewhere good to eat, when all that deciding which modern masterpiece will look best over the fireplace gives...

Getting your 5-a-day with the Innocent pop-up cafe in Old Street

Information: 01 October 2010

Hot Dinners popped down last night to the Tramshed in Old Street to the launch of London's latest pop-up - the Innocent 5 for 5 Cafe. With food created by TV chef Gizzi Erskine, the pop up is a...

The Savoy Truffle Club London Restaurant Pop-up reviewed

Information: 30 September 2010

There was a frisson of excitement at last night's launch of the Savoy Truffle Club's London Restaurant Festival pop-up when chef Gavin Billenness's heavily pregnant wife (who'd greeted us all at the...

Oxo Tower unveils plans for new riverfront bar opening in November

Information: 29 September 2010

For a city with a whacking great river running through it, London is pretty poorly served with riverfront bars. So we're relatively excited to hear about the OXO Tower's plans to launch a new bar...

Galvin La Chapelle is AA Guide's Best London Restaurant

Information: 28 September 2010

It's been a good year for Spitalfields restaurant Galvin La Chapelle. In May it was chosen as Tatler's Best Restaurant. In June it won best overall designed restaurant at the Restaurant & Bar Design...

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