Monday Bulletin: The Pharmacy | Johnny Boy’s | The Pem

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

To get the CODE Bulletin direct to your inbox every Monday morning sign up here

Let us know your news to potentially be featured in the CODE Bulletin or The Good Food Guide Weekly newsletters, as well as across CODE and The Good Food Guide social platforms.

BAR ALTA

EXCLUSIVE: Something new is coming to ALTA in Soho this June as the restaurant’s ground floor becomes Bar ALTA on 23 June. Inspired by the pintxos culture of Northern Spain, the new concept offers a more casual experience, open for both reservations and walk-ins. ALTA’s first-floor dining room will remain unchanged. Developed by head chef Robbie Jameson, formerly of HUMO, who joined ALTA in May, the menu draws on his expertise in live-fire cooking and passion for bar culture. Dishes include grilled flatbread with green romesco and manchego and spiced cecina with Kampot peppercorn oil, alongside larger sharing plates such as A4 Wagyu with Marmite, honey and Espelette pepper. The bar will share ALTA’s wine and cider list, with a stronger focus on wines by the glass, vermouths and sherries. Artem Login, founder of MAD Restaurants, said the launch offers “another way to enjoy the restaurant, to complement the ALTA people know and love”.

THE PHARMACY

Merlin Labron-Johnson has relaunched Osip’s sister venue The Old Pharmacy as, simply, The Pharmacy, appointing Marc Ackland and Zsuzsanna Toth as joint head chefs. Launching alongside is Pharmacy Field Kitchen, a new catering and outdoor events arm.

LE PERROQUET

Daniel Rose of Le Coucou and La Bourse et La Vie in New York is coming to London. He’ll open Le Perroquet, an all-day French brasserie, at the new St. Regis London in Mayfair this autumn. Robert Aikens will be executive head chef.

THE PEM

Romy Gill MBE is taking over The Pem, the restaurant at Conrad London St. James founded by Sally Abé in 2021. Opening this autumn, Romy Gill at The Pem marks Gill’s first permanent kitchen in six years, with a focus on regional Indian cooking.

• Uncle Hon’s BBQ is screening England’s football matches at its Hackney Wick site. The food will match the match, so it’ll be ćevapi on 17 June for England vs Croatia.

• Johnny Boy’s, a new LA-style local from Facing Heaven’s Julian Denis hits Stoke Newington on 4 July. There will be patty melts and bottomless coffee.

• Brazilian chef Alberto Landgraf who worked under Tom Aikens circa 2003 is back in the kitchen with his old boss at Muse on 17 June. The £250 ticket includes a copy of Landgraf’s new book Oteque.

• The National Restaurant Awards 2026 were announced last week. Bouchon Racine took the top spot and Nieves Barragán Mochaco won big too, taking home both ‘Opening of the Year’ and ‘Chef of the Year’ awards.

• HACHA, the agave experts, whose Dalston bar closed in April, are back and spending the summer at Ixchel in Chelsea. Mirror margaritas all round.

• Tom Adams of Coombeshead Farm is taking over The Shaston Arms in Soho on 29 June for one night only. Expect pig’s cheek and beef heart.

• Ramsgate’s Seabird has swooped into Margate. Its new all-day café and wine bar opens seven days a week from 9.30am.

• BiBi’s Chet Sharma has been named global culinary director of JKS Restaurants’ Gymkhana. He remains chef patron of BiBi.

Get more hospitality news by following us on our social media channels. Submit your news here to be featured in the CODE Bulletin.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Putting Norfolk wine on the map: Good Food Guide

Ghost at the feast: How Noma’s René Redzepi became untouchable: Observer

The British food scene was booming. Why has it suddenly gone bust?: The Guardian

How Henry Harris made Bouchon Racine the hottest restaurant in Britain: The Times

The Robot Can’t Sing: Dan O’Regan’s Notes on a Napkin Substack

In Defence of the Perfectly Ordinary Restaurant: FT Weekend

THE DUMBWAITER

The Dumbwaiter has added a cute new term to his vocabulary: “wobble night” – as Café Clement dubbed their friends and family night the other week.

It’s grass season. As the world’s top tennis players descend on London’s courts – and restaurants – Philippines sensation Alex Eala knew exactly where she wanted to eat: Donia in Soho, of course.

Sweetings (est.1889) has quietly become one of the fashion crowd’s favourite restaurants. Henry Holland Studio celebrated its fifth birthday there last week with guests including Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof and Nick Grimshaw.