Kudu Collective to relocate and relaunch cocktail bar

Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams have revealed plans to relocate their Smokey Kudu cocktail bar in London’s Peckham and relaunch the site as a South African-inspired tapas restaurant.

The husband-and-wife duo are expected to reopen the venue in June following refurbishment as Little Kudu, a counter dining restaurant with an open kitchen.

Like the group’s two other Peckham restaurants, Kudu and Kudu Grill, chef patron Patrick will be cooking South African cuisine, alongside fellow South African-born head chef Chace Wagenhauser, currently sous chef at Kudu.

The menu, featuring small plates priced from £4-£23, will include the Little Kudu loaf with Cape Malay butter, smoked peri-peri mussels, braaibroodjie (South African grilled cheese sandwich) with smoked tomato chutney and a ham hock terrine with biltong scratchings. The 30-bin wine list will showcase wines from South Africa.

The Caterer reported plans to open a tapas-style restaurant called Little Kudu were announced by the group in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Smokey Kudu concept is to become the first of the group’s brands to open outside Peckham and is set to reopen at clothing brand Rixo’s new flagship store on the King’s Road in Chelsea this April.

The 30-cover cocktail bar will be open Monday through to Saturday (1-7pm) and Sundays (2-6pm) and will be open for reservations and walk-ins.

The cocktail list will include a mix of new drinks and Smokey Kudu favourites priced £12-£14 including the Kudu Pear (pear Cognac, ginger liqueur, green apple, cardamom bitters and citrus), Kudu Colada (pineapple juice, Amarula, creme of coconut, Supasuwa), and a small selection of sparkling, red and white wines.

The central circular bar has been designed by Cupla, with terracotta clay flooring and palm trees.

Smokey Kudu will close in Peckham on 2 April before reopening on 12 April in Chelsea.

Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams opened Kudu on Queens Road in Peckham in January 2018, which was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand. In January 2020, the couple opened cocktail bar, Smokey Kudu, under the arches by Queens Road station. May 2021 saw the opening of Curious Kudu, a gallery and private dining space accommodating up to 14 guests. Kudu Grill followed in September 2021, a restaurant focusing on braai – a South African grill using only wood and charcoal.

Patrick Williams’ culinary career started in Cape Town’s La Colombe and he went on to work at Camphors at Vergelegen before moving to London. He joined Robin Gill’s team firstly at the Manor and then at Paradise Garage, where he was a sous chef.

Kudu Collective co-owner Amy Corbin grew up working in the industry as the daughter of Chris Corbin, co-founder of Corbin & King.