Bob Bob Cite to relaunch with new head chef Ben Hobson

London’s Bob Bob Cite restaurant is to relaunch later this month, with Ben Hobson taking over as head chef.

The site in the Leadenhall building - better known as the Cheesegrater - will reopen on 26 October under the name Bob Bob Ricard City.

Owner Leonid Shutov is aiming to make the restaurant, which launched in May 2019, similar to the Soho original, with interiors redesigned with a cosier feel evoking "modern-day luxury travel".

The famous Press for Champagne buttons will still feature in every booth, with 70 varieties available to guests, including 10 by the glass ranging from £12.50 to £29.

Hobson started his career as commis chef at London’s Galvin at Windows in 2010 before moving to chef de partie roles at Tom Kerridge’s the Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and at the Star Inn in Harome, North Yorkshire.

In 2015 he returned to Galvin at Windows as senior chef de partie and was promoted to senior sous chef in 2017, before joining Bob Bob Ricard City in December 2020.

His Franco-Russian menu will include cassoulet with duck confit; quail grillé with truffle jus; tarte tatin; and Armagnac doughnut, infused with any of the restaurant’s 70 VSOP Armagnac vintages from 1888 to 2005.

Other familiar Bob Bob Ricard classics will also feature, including the dégustation of caviar; oysters ‘Rasputin’; and Beef Wellington for two.

Shutov said: “Ben has been working very hard behind the scenes throughout Bob Bob Ricard City’s closure. He brings with him tremendous passion, talent, and classic French expertise from his many years at Galvin at Windows."

Bob Bob Ricard City was originally overseen by head chef Eric Chavot, who left the role for personal reasons at the end of January 2020.

The original Bob Bob Ricard launched in Soho in 2008.