New Kids on the Block
The Swine Bistro
Aficionados of all things porcine need to get acquainted with The Swine Bistro, previously known as The Swine that Dines on North Street in Leeds. Yet both a change of location and nomenclature has given this much-loved venue a shot in the arm; an 18-cover restaurant can now manage 35 guests in its new site, occupying premises that once housed a hair salon. Regulars, however, will instantly recognise the menu, particularly its emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and classic bistro fare. Pork & pistachio sausages with mushrooms, followed by guinea fowl, bacon & leek pie deserves an equally robust paring – owners Jo and Stuart Myers previously offered BYO to oenophiles with extensive cellars and refined palates.
The Swine Bistro is open now.
77A Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3PS
Reservations - The Swine That Dines, Leeds
Tom Brown at the Capital
Tom Brown, erstwhile head chef at Nathan Outlaw's Capital restaurant, is returning to SW3 this April with a culinary offering that promises “clean, creative, and produce-driven cooking”. Regarded as one of London's most dynamic and talented chefs, Brown won a first Michelin star at his Hackney restaurant, Cornerstone, before closing the business last year. But Hackney's loss is Knightbridge’s gain: a new 28-seat venue at the deluxe Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge will serve responsibly sourced seafood, including eight and 10-course lunch menus (£80 and £100) featuring wild bass with buttermilk & vanilla, tuna with soy & quail egg, and turbot with smoked eel & black truffle. The décor, meanwhile, is understated and tastefully minimalist, reflecting the hotel's elegant aesthetic. This ethos carries through to the wine list, which features an expertly curated selection of organic, sustainable and esoteric drops.
Tom Brown at the Capital will open on 10 April.
22, 24 Basil St, London SW3 1AT
The Kerfield Arms
London's Camberwell is poised to welcome a new gastro-focused neighbourhood pub to its expanding dining scene as The Kerfield Arms gears up for its launch on 15 April. Opened by the same team that was behind The Baring in Islington, this latest venture will offer a similar mix of modern British dishes served in a lively and informal atmosphere, including al fresco seating for the warmer months. Hungry diners can feast on fried pig’s head with smoked eel & warm tartare sauce, or Yorkshire hogget with violet artichokes, served alongside a generous selection of wines by the glass. Delivered with the signature panache we've come to expect from this ‘posh pub’ group, The Kerfield Arms is bound to be a resounding success.
The Kerfield Arms will open on 15 April.
16 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8SY