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Hot Restaurant Openings and News - August
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Keep the summer vibes alive with these hot new restaurant openings and residencies to trial this August and beyond.
Waterhouse
Gabriel Waterhouse and Patricia Wakaimba will open Waterhouse, a new restaurant, wine bar, and garden inside a Victorian warehouse, just off Columbia Road Flower Market this August. Following the closure of the acclaimed The Water House Project in June, the husband and wife team will now open this permanent site - a culmination of years spent refining their vision and approach to hospitality. Rooted in Gabriel’s upbringing in Northumberland, you'll find a focus on the produce, landscapes and traditions of North East England prominent, alongside a philosophy of seasonality, preservation and thoughtful hospitality.
The garden is made up of hand-built raised beds, to grow herbs, flowers and seasonal produce for both the restaurant and wine bar. As the garden matures, its influence on the restaurant will continue to deepen, becoming an increasingly important source of ingredients.
Opens 6th August
Address: Waterhouse, 7A Ezra Street, London, E2 7RH
Mor - Carbis Bay Estate
Inspired by the rhythm and seasons of Cornwall, Chef Tom Sellers (also of two Michelin-starred Restaurant Story) is opening MOR at Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate, St Ives. MOR’s interior has been designed by the acclaimed Shayne Brady, drawing inspiration from the spiritual traditions of Japanese Shintoism and Cornish Celtic mysticism. With sweeping views over the white sands of Carbis Bay and a menu that celebrates ingredients from trusted local fishermen and growers, MOR reflects Cornwall and its seasons.
Highlights include an impressive raw bar and charcoal grill, alongside an à la carte menu. Small plates offer simple yet inspired flavour combinations, such as Smoked Mora Farm tomatoes with chilled dashi; Cornish blue fin tuna tartare with tomato and tonnato; and Shell baked ‘one breath’ scallop with roasted chilli paste and salted butter. Main dishes include oven-baked crisp seafood rice with Coombeshead Farm charcuterie and rouille, and Miso cured hamachi with beach herbs and salted chilli. Desserts such as Jasmine rice soft serve with wasabi and cherry conclude the experience.
Freshness is key, with MOR’s on-site kitchen garden, and ingredients are sourced from Cornwall’s finest suppliers, including dayboat fish from Kernow Sashimi, organic vegetables from Mora Farm, crab and lobster from independent fisherman John Tonks, and free-dived Greenstraight Scallops.
Opens 1st August
Mor, Carbis Bay Estate. Carbis Bay, Saint Ives TR26 2NP
Kismet
Offering a contemporary take on a traditional Turkish tavern Kismet, the new opening from Dom Hamdy (Bistro Freddie, Crispin, Bar Crispin, Canal) and chef Keiran Mustafa (previously BiBi and The Harwood Arms) is already causing quite a stir. Find it above The Globe Tavern in Borough Market, London, The year-long residency is centred on meze and mangal-grilled kebabs, alongside a drinks list led by raki and wines from across Türkiye.
Now open
Address: Kismet, Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, 8 Bedale Street, London, SE1 9AL
Website: https://kismet.london
Two Twins Tacos
Spitalfields gets a new independent taqueria this month. This will be the fourth Two Twins Tacos site from Graham Bradbury. He opened his original restaurant in Brixton in 2023 as a side hustle, but things quickly blew up. Twin Tacos in Notting Hill and Kilburn followed and now they're heading east! Inspired by California's beach vibes, expect a menu of southern Californian tacos, margaritas and mezcals.
Don't miss Taco Tuesdays when all Birria tacos are just £3!
Opening date TBC
Address: Two Twin Tacos, Unit C, SP4, Old Spitalfields Market, London, E1 6EA
Big Kid Ice Cream Opens Whippies
Seven Dials Market has got itself a new soft serve bar! The ultra cool Big Kid Ice Cream brand is opening a second site, to bring their Willy Wonka-style flavours to Covent Garden. Get ready for 90s nostalgia. Whippies will offer a brand new menu, packed with British ice cream van classics, reimagined. What’s on the menu? Brûléed banana split with peanut caramel, Solero Knickerbocker and Hot Fudge Cookies N’ Cream Supreme.
Take notes for the next heatwave as they'll also be rolling out a ‘Brain Freeze’ series - Big Kid’s ice-cold rotating fresh fruit sorbetto slushies, ice cream floats and cocktail ice pops.
Opens 8 August
Soft Launch Offer: In celebration of the opening, Ninety-nine ‘Flake 99s’ ice creams at 99p each day from 8th - 9th August.
Address: Top Floor, Seven Dials Market, Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9LX
Coming soon ….. Arcus and Bancone
The CF team were treated to an exciting preview meal ahead of the opening of new Bloomsbury restaurant Arcus (opening later this summer). Overlooking Russell Square, Arcus will be Bloomsbury’s only rooftop location for a glimpse of some iconic central London city views. You’ll be able to spy St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and domes of the British Museum. The 330-seat venue will offer cocktails and a menu of seasonal small plates. A new Bancone restaurant will also be opening on the ground floor.
Opens late August - Date TBC
Address: Arcus, 61-66 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 5BB
