Monday Bulletin: The Albatross | Ollie Dabbous | La Cage
Published 4 September 2026
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THE ALBATROSS
A City pub serving live lobsters and king crab straight from the tank? It can only be the work of Wild Group, whose first pub, The Albatross, lands in a 1930s former bank on Old Jewry, by Bank Station, on 7 September. True to form, it will demonstrate a deep commitment to produce and classic dishes such as lobster thermidor, seafood bisque and veal schnitzel. Good value will also be central, with pints of Pillars Pilsner and Guinness both £6.
Wild Group (the group behind Beast, Wild Tavern and Goodman) has assembled a crack team for the 200-cover pub: head chef Chris Piorkowski; landlord Chris Dunlop, ex-The Spotted Pig; and landlady Alice Tayler, ex-The Tom Kerridge Group. Crispin Sugden of Wild Group operations says: “We always wanted to do a pub, a new challenge. When we asked ourselves what was missing in the City pub scene, it kept coming back to the same thing: somewhere British-led, with proper food, a different selection of draft that wasn’t found on every font, great cocktails, wine and a bit of fun.”
SCHOFIELD’S BAR
Schofield’s Bar, the celebrated Manchester bar, twice voted one of the World’s 50 Best Bars, is heading for the capital. Brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield will be mixing their famous martinis, Manhattans and more in Covent Garden from early November.
LA CAGE
La Cage, a sports brasserie and long-standing Montreal institution, makes its UK debut on 4 September. The Kensington High Street site represents the group’s first move into an English-speaking market. Bring on the live sports, poutine and lobster rolls!
CAFÉ TWENTY TWO
The Twenty Two in Mayfair debuts a new concept in its dining room next month. Café Twenty Two, led by Guillaume Glipa (ex-Louie London), will marry Mayfair elegance with Parisian chic, serving cocktails from a trolley and French classics from the kitchen. Sure to be a scene.
Lee Tiernan’s FKABAM is back for one day only. Find it on the terrace at Bambi in London Fields, this Sunday 6 September, as part of the Gozney Local: London series. Menu, £65. Bookings, here.
London has its first Thai sourdough pizza concept, Bangkok Mama, now open at Thai Square Minories in the City. Try the Bangkok Piccante with soy sauce, bird’s eye chillies, beef or tofu, and a fried egg.
Meanwhile on Exmouth Market, Roberto Costa’s punk-inspired new pizzeria, God Save The Pizza, launches today, promising “Italian dough, London attitude”.
Kāio at The Whiteley in Bayswater is hosting Ollie Dabbous for the first of its ‘Chef Invasion’ series. The residency runs from 16-26 September. Six courses, £95.
Finally, though there’s been no official word as yet, it appears Dishoom will be taking over the Las Iguanas site on London’s South Bank…
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WHAT WE’RE READING
THE DUMBWAITER
Cook and host Jago Rackham launched his guest bao at Bao King’s Cross last Monday. The plum-sauced splattered terrace left behind afterwards was a testament to the guests’ enthusiasm for his pork, butter and cucumber bao.
Cynthia Shanmugalingam trialled breakfast service at her Borough restaurant, Rambutan, last week. Judging by the chefs who turned up en masse for egg hoppers, masala coffee and seeni sambol toasties, including Abby Lee, Dara Klein and Fuchsia Dunlop, it seems she might have to keep it going.
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