
5

"A long-standing Holland Park restaurant is reopening under a chef with Michelin-star pedigree: Shay Cooper, formerly executive chef at The Goring hotel (before Nathan Outlaw moved in with Siren), will take over the kitchen in September 2019 to coincide with the venue’s 50th anniversary. The spot has a storied past — attracting a hypebeast A-list clientele and accused of misrepresenting its meat as organic — and in its heyday hosted the Rolling Stones, Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Moss and Diana, Princess of Wales. Its founder, Julie Hodgess, created a distinctive “honeycomb” of small dining rooms, many lined with plants and mirrors. Owners Tim and Cathy Herring tried to downsize the restaurant, but those plans were rejected by Kensington and Chelsea council after objections from 24 local residents. Early details indicate a modern British menu, and the relaunch will be watched to see if it can recapture the celebrity draw now centered on private hotspots such as Annabel’s and the Chiltern Firehouse." - James Hansen