Fat Duck colleagues Jonny Lake and Isa Bal to open London restaurant in autumn

Former Fat Duck colleagues chef Jonny Lake and master sommelier Isa Bal have revealed plans to open a restaurant at the Snowsfields Yard development in London Bridge this autumn.

The pair have said the 75-cover restaurant and 25-cover bar will use the finest ingredients and wines, aiming to deliver an "unrivalled taste experience".

Lake added: "The location ticked all the boxes - it is tucked away on a quiet street near London Bridge and Borough Market in an area that is fun, exciting and full of life."

Bal and Lake worked together for more than 12 years at the Fat Duck Group in the roles of group executive chef and group head sommelier before leaving last year to pursue personal projects.

Lake's professional cooking career began when he trained as a chef at the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Québec, Canada, which led him to complete stints at Michelin-starred restaurants Spurcacciun-a and Quintilio in Liguria, Italy, as well as working for legendary Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi at L'Albereta in Lombardy.

He moved to the UK in 2005 to join the Fat Duck, was named head chef in 2009 and subsequently promoted to executive head chef of the group.

Bal's hospitality career began more than 20 years ago as a commis sommelier at the Vineyard at Stockcross, near Newbury. In 2008 he won the highly regarded title of Best Sommelier of Europe and passed the Master Sommelier exams a year later.

In his role as head sommelier for the Fat Duck Group, Bal worked closely with the kitchen team, pioneering new ways to pair food and drinks.

Further details, including the name of the restaurant, have yet to be released.

The restaurateurs were advised by property agent Belchak Corin & Co.

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