Latest openings: the Pharmacy, Fiend, the Ro hotel and more

20 July 2021
Latest openings: the Pharmacy, Fiend, the Ro hotel and more

A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors.

The Old Pharmacy

Chef Merlin Labron-Johnson has opened a new venture a few doors down from his Michelin-starred Osip in Bruton, Somerset.

The Old Pharmacy, which has been trading as a weekend takeaway shop for the past few months, has now opened a dining room, serving small plates inspired by the flavours of rural Provence.

The Old Pharmacy is a more casual space than Osip, where guests can drop in for local charcuterie, cheeses or preserves, or settle in for a longer meal.

During the day it serves coffee, salads and toasties to takeaway or eat in at one of the window tables, while small plates, wine and cider are on offer in the evening. Dishes are led by produce grown at Labron-Johnson's own nearby plot of land, while head chef Paolo Mauceri (formerly of London's Hide and Pidgin) brings a Sicilian influence to the menu.

The wider team includes operations manager David Durban (ex-Petersham Nurseries and Frenchie) and manager Edward Boylan (ex-Carousel). The menu rounds off with a tiramisù recipe contributed by barman Andrea's mum, a recipe that has been passed down the generations.

Opened 22 July

Founder Merlin Labron-Johnson

Typical dishes Chilled butter bean soup with cucumber and wild fennel; ravioli of Westcombe ricotta with datterini tomatoes and basil

Website www.instagram.com/oldpharmacybruton

Fiend

Fiend
Fiend

Former 108 Garage chef Chris Denney is returning to London's Notting Hill to open a bar and restaurant. Fiend serves both an à la carte and a six-course set menu described as a "guided culinary adventure".

Opened 23 July

Founder Chris Denney

Typical dishes Bulgogi sweet bread with kefir cabbage and green onion; wagyu short rib with smoked tomato and Colston Bassett Stilton

Website www.fiend-portobello.com

Bar Crispin

Bar Crispin
Bar Crispin

The team behind London's Crispin have launched a wine bar and restaurant in Soho, offering a café-style morning menu and broader lunch and dinner dishes.

Opened 19 July

Founders Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam

General manager Stefano Cazzato

Head chef Brendan Lee

Typical dishes Flat fish, broad beans, citrus butter; anchovy and potato focaccia, salsa verde

Website www.barcrispin.com

The Ro hotel

Ro hotel
Ro hotel

The former Hydro hotel, which overlooks Lake Windermere in Cumbria, has relaunched as the Ro hotel following a multimillion-pound refurbishment. The bedroom count has increased from 78 to 87, while six new events spaces have been added, with capacity for up to 200 people.

Opened 1 July

Room rate From £274

General manager Fabio De Barros

Website www.therohotel.com

Sachi at Pantechnicon

Sachi at Pantechnicon
Sachi at Pantechnicon

Sachi is the latest addition to Pantechnicon in London's Belgravia, featuring a sushi chef's table, private booths set in a Japanese garden and a Tokyo-inspired late night bar. The menu celebrates both Nordic and Japanese flavours.

Opened 21 July

Head chef Collin Hudson

Executive chef Chris Golding

Typical dishes Trout with wasabi and vendace roe; pork belly, barley miso, mustard leaf

Website www.pantechnicon.com/sachi

Rico's Ristorante

Rico's Ristorante
Rico's Ristorante

The former site of Martin Wishart's Honours Brasserie in Edinburgh has been taken over by the Rocca Group. Named after founder Stefano Pieraccini's grandfather Enrico Pieraccini, it offers Italian dishes with fresh pasta made on-site daily.

Opened 9 July

Founder Stefano Pieraccini

Typical dishes Oven-baked sea bream; pappardelle, organic Peelham Farm rose veal ragù, black truffle

Website www.ricosristorante.co.uk

The Pig & Waffle

Pig and Waffle
Pig and Waffle

The Greedy Gordons Pub group has opened a pub in Grafton Underwood, near Kettering, offering brunch, lunch, evening tapas and drinks. The Pig Pen garden kiosk offers coffee, cake, ice-cream or cold drinks to take away.

Opened 21 June

Founders Richard Gordon and Sonya Harvey

Typical dishes Barbecue pulled pork and poached egg waffle; confit duck leg, fried duck egg, black pudding; fritto misto; potted mackerel

Website www.pigandwaffle.co.uk

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