As London's restaurants prepare to spill outside, going alfresco in a big way this summer, new Hammersmith restaurant Sam's Riverside is taking full advantage of its waterside location.

Only open four months before the lockdown - here's a reminder of our Test Drive at the time -  the restaurant will reopen on

Some London restaurants will clearly need more time to prepare for reopening, particularly when so much of their offering includes counter dining which falls way short of even the new 1m plus rule.

But while they work out their plans some, like Mayfair's Sabor, have ploughed ahead with offerings to bring their restaurants to your home instead.

We've been having serious pangs for the dishes from Nieves Barragan Mohacho and Jose

Yesterday the government announced the reopening date for London's restaurants. But it seems that some aren't waiting that long. In town last week we spotted a few restaurants doing 'takeaway' that essentially involved eating at the restaurant's tables outside. And now a restaurant on the King's Road has opened its terrace for

Three months into lockdown and the prospect of a meal out in a London restaurant has never seemed so appealing. But where would we choose as the first restaurant we'd want to go to when the lockdown is finally lifted? 1500 of you took part in our survey back in May, asking where you hoping to dine once restaurants reopen. Here are the results.

(We're updating this article as new information is announced)

Today, the government finally unveiled the new measures that will allow London's restaurants, bars and pubs to reopen from 4 July. Here's how it's all going to work:

• Pubs, bars and restaurants can reopen on Saturday 4 July
• The social distancing rule will be changed to 1m+ 
• That means it can

While we're obviously very excited that restaurants are about to reopen, we're also just as giddy about the pubs, bars and taprooms returning across the city. And one of our favourites of the latter is definitely 40ft Brewery in Dalston. They're not only reopening their outside space, but they're also introducing a new drink to emphasise the required social distancing. 

The 6FT is

If you've been wondering how on earth restaurants in the centre of London are going to reopen, when restrictions lift next month, well we now have more of a clue.

Westminster Council today published a detailed document listing the measures they're planning

We've known for some time, well before the lockdown, that Islington's Trullo (sister restaurant to Padella) had bought the shop next door. It was kept empty for a while - but now we finally have some info on what's being planned, just as they've reached their 10th birthday. 

Now they've unveiled the Trullo deli. We're told to expect "all the things you love about Trullo for you to take home." So there are

It may not be offering the much-Instagrammed dish Le Caviar or langoustine ravioli to go, but Le Deli Robuchon - which is starting its delivery service - does have a few luxe tricks in its repertoire.

The all-day menu kicks off with a French style breakfast box - pain au chocolat, croissant, a mix of breads and yoghurt sound good - and then moves to a series of filled baguettes and light dishes.

Of course, should you want to push

If you're a fan of Elizabeth Haigh's Mei Mei, as we were, or didn't manage to visit it in Borough Market before the lockdown - we have some good news. 

Not only will Mei Mei be back in action in Borough Market this week, but there's a growing range of goods on its

Right now, we can't think of anything we'd like more than to perch up at the marble counter at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill with a glass of fizz and oysters being shucked in front of us.

But, while we wait for that day to arrive, we can at least take advantage of chef/owner Richard Corrigan's new delivery service. Mr Oyster Boy, which launches this week, will bring a range of dishes from that restaurant (along with

We were delighted to see our local spot Fink's Sweet & Salt reopening its doors late last week. The popular Highbury cafe and store has been shut since October following a devastating mains pipe burst which flooded the area.

Reopening anywhere in the current times brings added pressures and, of course, right now Fink's is takeaway only, with social distancing measures in place. Their hatch has also reopened for anyone wanting to swing by and

We've already heard about how Soho is hoping to pedestrianise over the summer to give it a post-lockdown boost and now there's news of the return of a Soho staple - Golden Union. The much-loved fish and chip shop has been in Soho for 12 years and it's returning with something new - a buttie

Are we within weeks of seeing the UK's restaurants and pubs reopening? That's the considered opinion of The Financial Times which, over the weekend, reported that Ministers have identified June 22 as a potential date to reopen them and 'save the summer'.

Key to that would be the existence of some sort of alfresco element with

Patrick Powell's Allegra is back in Stratford - with a difference. Obviously you can't head up to their restaurant on the 7th floor just yet, so they've come back down to the ground to team up with The Stratford restaurant that's in the same building

Powell himself will be in charge of the pizza oven on the terrace where they'll be serving up Roman-style pizzas, including a margherita, chorizo &