Latest openings: the Pem, Ottolenghi Marylebone, the Garden Room and more

 

The Pem

Sally Abé’s highly anticipated restaurant the Pem opens at the Conrad London St James hotel in Westminster this month. Abé was previously head chef at London’s only Michelin-starred pub the Harwood Arms, where she retained the award for four years, and joined the hotel as consultant chef last autumn.

 

The restaurant’s name is inspired by suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, whose family nickname was ‘Pem’, and Abé has assembled a team of top female talent.

 

Emma Underwood, formerly of Robin and Sarah Gill’s Darby’s, is general manager, while Laetizia Keating, who also cooked at the Harwood Arms, is head chef.

 

The restaurant’s art deco-inspired dining room seats 70 covers, while an additional private dining room has space for 24. On the menu, Abé will be putting her own spin on familiar flavour combinations, such as pollock, cockles and peas; and chocolate and cherry.

 

The Conrad London St James plans to open four food and drinks concepts overseen by Abé. The Blue Boar Pub opened in May, and its first cocktail bar, the Hedgerow, will launch alongside Pem this month.

 

Opening 20 July

 

Typical dishes Poached native lobster, shellfish cream, heritage tomatoes and sweet olive; roasted John Dory with brassicas, lemon, sauce Choron; Black Forest gâteau, chocolate curls, English cherry ripple ice-cream

 

Website www.thepemrestaurant.com

 

Ottolenghi Marylebone

 

 

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s first new deli in six years has opened in central London. Guests can enjoy salads, pastries and main courses sat around a communal Amazonian table.

 

Opened 1 July

 

Founder Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

 

Designer Alex Meitlis

 

Typical dishes Spiced chicken pie with tahini sauce; roasted aubergine with lemon and lime yogurt, Amba, harissa oil and Masala peanuts

 

Website www.ottolenghi.co.uk/restaurants

 

Garden Room

 

 

Essex country house hotel Down Hall’s 60-cover modern British restaurant opens this month. New executive chef Graham Noonan-Chatham will create daily changing menus using produce from the kitchen garden.

 

Opening 14 July

 

Typical dishes Norfolk lobster with Bedlam Farm squash, salty fingers and trout roe; Manjari dark chocolate ganache with pistachio and candied ginger ice-cream

 

Website www.downhall.co.uk

 

Hampton by Hilton Canterbury

 

 

The UK’s latest Hampton by Hilton hotel has opened, five minutes’ walk from Canterbury Cathedral. The 129-bedroom property features a bar, restaurant, 24-hour fitness centre and meeting room for 12 people.

 

Opened 23 June

 

Room rate From £76 a night

 

General manager Scott Jakins

 

Website www.hilton.com