Monday Bulletin: Lunette | OXO Tower  | The Horses

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

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OXO TOWER RESTAURANT 

James Robson, Will Murray and Jack Croft, co-owners of Fallow, Fowl and Roe, have acquired OXO Tower Restaurant from Harvey Nichols. The announcement follows news that Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has bought the Harvey Nichols department store chain through a pre-pack administration, with the iconic restaurant excluded from the deal. James Robson says: “We could not resist this gem of an art deco landmark. The 8th floor views are world famous and we look forward to working with the incumbent team and landlord to bring some additional character and energy back to this wonderful site.” Describing the project as a “work in progress”, Robson adds that the plan for now is to “patiently tweak” and “give some love back” to the existing operation. OXO Tower Restaurant opened in 1996, quickly becoming emblematic of the rejuvenated South Bank. The Fallow team taking it on three decades later is exciting news for London: a modern media-savvy brand meets an icon of Cool Britannia. More soon.

THE HORSES

Having conquered London’s ‘W’ postcodes, Public House Group will plant their first flag in East London next month with the arrival of The Horses. Their new pub will take over the old Coach and Horses in Clerkenwell, and will have a strong focus on British seafood.

LUNETTE

Further details have been revealed about Lunette, Florence Knight’s long-awaited solo restaurant on the 11th floor of Nick Jones’ St Clement hotel on the Strand. The 30-cover space will open in late September, serving four courses at £80 for lunch, eight at £120 at dinner.

TOASTÉE

Fans of Florence Mae Maglanoc’s cult bakery Panadera will rejoice at news of Toastée, her new “ube-forward” dessert shop, which makes its debut at Westfield White City in September. Expect Filipino-style French toast signatures and drinks such as ube foam matcha.

• Rambutan in Borough is opening for breakfast – for one week only. Head over from 25-31 August for egg hoppers, butter roti, and breakfast toasties.

• More Martino’s: Martin Kuczmarski’s Sloane Square Italian is now open all day from 8am to 11pm.

• Quince’s third annual Pie Party takes place at the N1 bakery on 31 August. Pies by Decatur, Bake Street, Lucky Yu and more, from noon until sold out.

• Franco’s, est. 1945 on Jermyn Street, unveils its new look bar on 1 September. Perfect for anything from a quick caffè to dinner and wine.

• Global steakhouse group Beefbar has a new London flagship. Beefbar at Dear Jackie opens at Broadwick Soho on 14 September.

• The Bird in Hand in West London has revealed the line-up for its monthly guest pizza series. First up, Notto’s Ali Howard with a Grezzina courgette pizza; then, from September, The Wellington’s Billy Stock with a French-accented garlic snail and Bayonne ham number. Oh là là.

• In other pizza news: Doctor Dough, previously a street food stall, has gone permanent, and is now slinging NY-style pies from its new home in Chiswick.

• Smoking Goat in Shoreditch is hosting an all-day summer special with its longtime supplier Flourish Farm on 23 August. On the menu: tai pla with chillies and grilled Barbarella and Shinkansen aubergines.
  

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WHAT WE’RE READING

• Simon Rogan’s guide to eating in and around Southampton: Good Food Guide

• In the age of AI, the analog restaurant feels radical: Eater

• Raising the bar: World of Interiors

• One for sorrow, two for joy: The Fence

THE DUMBWAITER

Simpson’s in the Strand is the home of chess and now anyone who fancies a game can play at Romano’s between 3pm-6pm every day. Checkmate.

Gordon Ramsay could have a restaurant with four Michelin stars and still all anyone would want to talk about is his idiot sandwich. He’s leaning into it: when his new restaurant at Sea Containers opens in September, it will serve not just one “Idiot Sandwich” but a whole flight of the things.

Diego Rossi has taken the signature vitello tonnato and tagliatelle al burro e Parmigiano off the menu at his celebrated Milanese trattoria, Trippa. The chef is tired of guests coming in solely for the Insta-famous dishes. Will other chefs follow suit?