Monday Bulletin: Junk | Mei Mei | E. Pellicci

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

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E. PELLICCI AT THE BRASS RAIL

The Brass Rail at Selfridges is marking its 60th anniversary with its first-ever collaboration, teaming up with none other than E. Pellicci, the historic East End café founded in 1900 and still family-run to this day. A glorious opportunity to tick off two London institutions in one, the collaboration will offer a menu of E. Pellicci signatures including pasta with pesto or ragu, E. Pellicci’s famous Big Bang ciabatta, an exclusive “E. Pellicci for The Brass Rail” Reuben, and school cake and custard. There’s a highly covetable and collectable line of merch too: “East End meets West End” caps and T-shirts, with a new E. Pellicci pantry range, including pesto, olive oil, ketchup and coffee beans, coming soon to Selfridges’ Food Hall. Visit Nevio, Anna and the E. Pellicci crew at The Brass Rail at Selfridges until Christmas.

MEI MEI GOODS

Elsewhere on Oxford Street, Elizabeth Haigh’s Mei Mei Goods commences its festive residency at Platter at John Lewis this 4 November. A chance to showcase its sauces (coming soon to Waitrose) and dishes like hot honey pigs in blankets and fried chicken.

BEATRIX

Alux Hospitality, the group behind Mexican restaurant Ixchel, will open a British brasserie and rooftop on the King’s Road in early 2027. Conceived as “a love letter to the English garden”, it feels spot on for Chelsea. Eamon Reis (ex-Straker’s) will lead the kitchen.

JUNK GROUP

French hospitality brand Junk Group continues its twin-pronged approach to expansion, with two new Covent Garden openings coming soon. First up, a fourth London site for Puffy Cookies, launching 17 November, then a fourth for its smashburger concept, Junk, following in early December.

StreetSmart’s 2026 campaign is now underway, with restaurants across the UK inviting diners to make a discretionary £1 donation per table throughout November and December to help tackle homelessness. Get involved here.

Fat Macy’s needs you: the social enterprise is looking for hospo professionals (particularly those who’ve had unusual career paths) to speak at their careers day in Shoreditch on 17 November. Contact Olivia Wicks, head of programmes.

Chef moves: Scottish chef Michael Smith of newly shuttered Loch Bay on Skye will join Perle Hotels as culinary director on 10 November. Stuart Deeley, meanwhile, joins two-Michelin-star Opheem in Birmingham.

Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson of Bristol’s Dongnae are cooking with Abby Lee at Mambow in Clapton on 15 November. It’s £65 for five courses.

Also visiting the capital from Bristol: Lapin, one of CODE’s Happiest Places to Work 2026, will be at The Buxton in Shoreditch from 5.30pm on 19 November, popping the cork on the new vintage Beaujolais Nouveau. Walk-in only.

Plant-based Chinese group, Tofu Vegan, opened their seventh site yesterday on the Strand in London

Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala’s pioneering Café Spice Namasté has closed after three decades. What’s next? Watch this space.

Toklas Bakery is rumoured to be expanding – all the way to Chelsea.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Twenty Classic London Restaurants: Good Food Guide

Why Mayfair’s exclusive members’ clubs are on life support: Daily Telegraph

Why do we keep going back? The Camberwell Arms on the secret to restaurant loyalty: Table For Two

Rick Stein: The Accidental Restaurateur: Boisdale Life

THE DUMBWAITER

Think the festive season is hard? The industry has already faced its toughest challenge of the year. No, not the latest budget, but getting through two busy services on the bounce while avoiding Traitors spoilers. Nobody ever said this job was easy.

To the Dish Live at the Royal Opera House with special guest Bill Bailey. Has the former winner of Strictly Come Dancing convinced Angela Hartnett to do the show? Let’s see.

Is Martin Kuczmarski really Father Christmas? At the end of last year he gave us Martino’s and Dover Street Counter. And for Christmas this year it looks like we’re getting Chelsea Counter.