Latest openings: the Seafood Bar, Fatt Pundit, Soma and more

A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors.

The Seafood Bar

The Seafood Bar is the first UK opening from a family-owned seafood restaurant group based in the Netherlands. It was founded by Fons de Visscher, who spent 27 years as a fishmonger in Helmond, before opening a restaurant in Amsterdam in 2012 with his son and daughters, Pepijn, Eline and Fleur. The family now has three sites in the Dutch capital, one of which holds a Michelin plate, and one in Utrecht.

Now the De Visschers have taken the former Red Fort site in Soho for their first London venue, a 190-cover restaurant spanning two floors. Guests can view the catch of the day in the downstairs seafood bar, which offers a menu of finger food and will host late-night oyster parties.

The menu main item is the fruits de mer platter, which is piled high with lobster, North Sea crab, razor clams and more. Ethical sourcing is a big focus, with the team partnering with Nordic Blu to source the world’s most sustainably farmed salmon, and the restaurant will run on wind energy.

Opening 9 September

Design Woodfever

Founder Fons de Visscher

Typical dishes Fruits de mer platters featuring lobster, North Sea crab, razor clams, langoustines and Dutch shrimps; sustainably bred oysters matured in the ‘claires’ in France; mixed grill of crustaceans and fish cooked on a plancha grill

Website www.theseafoodbar.com

Fatt Pundit

Fatt Pundit is heading to Covent Garden for its second London restaurant. Dishes are inspired by India’s Chinese immigrant community, while two bar areas will serve a cocktail menu.

Opening 21 September

Founders Huzefa and Hamza Sajawal

Typical dishes Saffron butter prawns; honey chilli duck; sweet and sticky venison with burnt garlic and crispy noodles; lamb chops with black bean dust

Website www.fattpundit.co.uk

Soma

The team behind London’s Kricket restaurant group have launched a basement bar next door to Kricket Soho. Soma seats 23 guests at a nine-metre stainless steel bar, while a lounge room can be hired for private events.

Opened 2 September

Founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell

Bar manager Angelos Bafas

Typical drinks Cocktails include ‘Leaf’ with curry leaf, Opihr gin, kaffir leaf and pink peppercorn

Website www.somasoho.com

###Radisson RED London Greenwich

The first Radisson RED hotel has opened in Greenwich in London. It features 70 rooms, a 50-cover all-day restaurant, 20-cover lounge area and a rooftop bar.

Opened 6 September

Operator Radisson Hotel Group

Owner Vivek Chadha, the Nine Group

Room rate From £72.10 per night

Website www.radissonhotels.com

Earls Sandwich Co

This Brooklyn-inspired sandwich shop in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, serves filled focaccias and challah buns. Fillings include pecorino and truffle rémoulade with McCoy’s cheese and onion crisps.

Opened 8 September

Founders Chris and Charlotte Thompson

Typical dishes The ‘McLovin’ It’: black pudding sausage, fried egg, hash brown and jalapeño cheese in a challah bun

Website www.earlsedinburgh.com

The Cod’s Scallops

The Cod’s Scallops Nottingham restaurant was named the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year at the National Fish and Chip Awards in 2020. Its new site, in Harborne, Birmingham, serves over 20 species of fish and shellfish daily.

Opening Early October

Founder John Molnar

Typical dishes Sea bass, lobster, skate wing, cod or haddock served baked, battered or ‘naked’

Website www.codsscallops.com

Jollibee Reading

The Phillipino fast food chain’s ninth UK restaurant has opened in Reading. It serves its signature fried ‘Chickenjoy’, and ‘Jolly Spaghetti’ with layers of cheese and hot dog slices.

Opened 9 September

Founder Tony Tan Caktiong

Typical dishes Crispy fried chicken with sweet spaghetti; Asian slaw; tropical burger; mango coconut sundae; Asian chicken tender rice bowl

Website www.jollibee.uk