Vintry & Mercer
Vintry & Mercer hotel has opened in the City of London with three restaurant and bar concepts.
Its main restaurant, Vintry Kitchen, serves an Asian-inspired menu of small plates, while at the top of the hotel, the Mercer Roof Terrace focuses on British produce cooked in a charcoal oven.
The 60-cover DND (Do Not Disturb) bar in the basement is inspired by 1920s New York cocktail bars, and serves barrel-aged cocktails alongside a menu of small plates.
The property is named after two of the City's historic guilds: vinters, who traded fine wines, and mercers, who sold fine silks; both of which are reflected in the hotel's interior, which was designed by Dexter Moren Associates.
Opened 4 February
Bedrooms 92
Owner FR Holdings
General manager Roberto Pajares
Starting room rate £175
Website www.vintryandmercer.com
Bingham Riverhouse
The Bingham in Richmond has relaunched as the Bingham Riverhouse following a renovation of its 15 guest rooms, dining rooms and bar. The menu of the three-AA-rosette Riverside restaurant has been rewritten by head chef Andrew Cole to include dishes such as turbot on the bone with fondant potato.
Owner The Trinder family
General manager Erick Kervaon
Design Nicola Harding
Website www.thebingham.co.uk
DoubleTree by Hilton Reading M4 J10
Vivek Chadha's Nine Hotel Group has opened the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading M4 J10. The group purchased the Grade II-listed 19th-century millhouse in 2017 and spent £4m on its redevelopment, adding a 300-person ballroom with a large banqueting facility**.**
Bedrooms 129
Owner Nine Group
Website www.nine-group.co.uk
Koolcha
Chef-restaurateur Rohit Ghai has overseen the launch of the Koolcha Indian food and cocktails concept at London's Boxpark Wembley. It is the second venture from Abhishake Sangwan and Ghai, who recently opened Kutir in Chelsea, and marks their first foray into a casual offering.
Covers 60
Typical dishes Ghati masala prawns; paneer tikka masala grilled sandwich; lamb khurchan sliders
Website www.koolcha.co.uk
Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour
Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland have opened the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour, formerly De Vere's Grand Harbour hotel. The property features the Royal Bar and a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, as well as 13 meeting and event spaces.
Bedrooms 173
Website www.leonardohotels.co.uk
Rhosyn
Penally Abbey hotel in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, has relaunched its two-AA-rosette restaurant as the more relaxed Rhosyn. The name, which means rose in Welsh, reflects how the restaurant looks out across a rose-lined terrace towards the sea.
Head chef Richard Browning
Restaurant manager Miriam Hodge
Typical dishes Hake with pea, broad bean, little gem lettuce and Pembrokeshire new potatoes
Website www.penally-abbey.com
Ooty
Ooty, specialising in the cuisine of southern India, has opened in London's Marylebone. The restaurant, named after a small town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, comprises a fine dining restaurant, a ‘colonial-style' basement bar and a casual dining space and cocktail bar (to open in the summer).
Covers 138
Founders Pooja Nayak and Aseela Goenka
Head chef Manmeet Singh Bali
Website www.ooty.co.uk