Openings

Pentonbridge Inn

 

Husband and wife team Jake and Cassie White have launched the Pentonbridge Inn restaurant with rooms near Carlisle in Cumbria. The inn is the first joint venture for the couple, who were previously head chef and pastry chef respectively at the two-Michelin-starred Marcus at the Berkeley in London. They have extensively refurbished the property from its previous incarnation, the Bridge Inn, and it now comprises a main dining room offering a five-course tasting menu, and a separate pub area, serving local ales and classic pub dishes. Much of the fruit, vegetables and herbs will come from the Victorian walled garden and greenhouses at nearby Netherby Hall, which Jake and Cassie have been cultivating alongside the head gardener. Local game will be well represented on the menu when in season, and meat will be sourced from Lake District Farmers and Millbank Venison, with fish coming from the Solway Firth and suppliers such as Keltic Seafare.

 

Opened 9 October
Founders Jake and Cassie White
Owners Gerald and Margo Smith
Covers 45
Bedrooms Nine
Starting room rate From £150 B&B
Design BusbyWebb
Website www.pentonbridgeinn.co.uk

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Aura Health Spa

 

Aura Health Spa has opened at Bowfield Hotel & Country Club, near Glasgow, concluding the second phase of a £1.5m redevelopment. The spa has seven treatment rooms, two new relaxation areas and a sauna overlooking the countryside. The decor incorporates natural, earthy tones.

 

Spa manager Laura Doran
Owner/operator Manorview Hotels & Leisure Group
Website www.bowfieldhotel.co.uk

 

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Flank

 

Transporting his Brighton pop-up to a bricks-and-mortar London site in Spitalfields Market, Tom Griffiths' Flank has a nose-to-tail menu of British ingredients cooked low and slow or seared over fire.

 

Head chef Tom Griffiths
Sous chef Drew Snaith
Typical dishes Burnt ends bun with onions and spice; slow-cooked aged beef; bone marrow gnocchi; and cauliflower cheese
Website www.flanklondon.com

 

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Il Tetto

 

Il Tetto is the latest resident of Selfridges' rooftop, a modern Italian restaurant in collaboration with restaurateur Des McDonald. The design has been inspired by Italy's casual neighbourhood restaurants and it features red and orange hues and herbs in terracotta pots.

 

Head chef Luca Terraneo
General manager Philippe Lhermitte
Typical dish Tortelli alla zucca mantovana (pumpkin parcels, robiola fondue and crispy sage)
Website www.iltetto.co.uk

 

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Lantana

 

Australian café brand Lantana has opened a third site, this time at London Bridge, serving brunch, snacks and dinner, and a coffee blend developed with Alchemy Roasters. The café aims to evoke "everything the founders loved and missed about Australian café culture".

 

Founders Shelagh Ryan, Michael Homan and Caitlin Ryan
Typical dishes Sweetcorn fritters; and shredded duck tacos with wasabi avocado
Website www.lantanacafe.co.uk

 

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Sofitel London Gatwick

 

Owner/operator Arora Group
Design Martin Farrow
General manager Globy Ouseph
Website www.sofitel.com

 

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The Orange Buffalo

 

The Orange Buffalo has set up shop in east London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen. The self-proclaimed ‘dive bar’ has regular live music events and is serving wings with a range of six sauces with varying degrees of spice. The brand will be announcing its first London-based franchisee soon.

 

Founders Nick White and Mike So
Typical dishes Curly fries; onion rings; deep-fried pickles; and veggie burgers
Website www.theorangebuffalo.com