This week's new openings: Dukes Dubai, Rocksalt-on-Sea, Seaspray Rooms and more

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

 

Dukes Dubai

 

Dukes Dubai is a sister hotel to Dukes London and the first international property for the Dukes Collection. Situated on the Palm Jumeirah development, it encompasses a beach with views over the Dubai Marina skyline, as well as an infinity pool, a kids' club and a poolside bar.

 

The venue includes a women-only Liberty Duchess floor, with 20 rooms furnished exclusively in Liberty fabrics, as well as 227 hotel apartments. Among the six dining options, the signature outlet, the Great British Restaurant, serves staple British comfort food in a setting overlooking the Gulf.

 

The remainder of the property's food and beverage outlets will launch within the next six to eight weeks, and will include traditional Northern Indian restaurant Khyber (the first international outpost for the Mumbai-based family restaurant group), the Tea Lounge and the Cigar Lounge.

 

Opened 2 April

 

Managing director Debrah Dhugga

 

Executive chef Martin Cahill

 

Bedrooms 279

 

Starting room rate Dhs959 (£208)

 

Typical dishes Cod and chips; Lancashire hotpot; Colchester oysters; Dover sole

 

Website www.dukesdubai.com

 

Rumpus Room

 

The Rumpus Room at Mondrian London at Sea Containers has opened following a refurbishment. The bar takes inspiration from 1920s glamour, and guests find their way to the rooftop bar via hot pink neon signage before walking through a hall of mirrors.

 

Design Jacu Strauss

 

Typical dishes Pulled pork; buttermilk-fried chicken; truffle croque monsieur

 

Website www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london

 

Rocksalt-on-Sea and Seaspray Rooms

 

Entrepreneur Luca Venditto has used a £558,800 funding package from HSBC to open a bar-brasserie, Rocksalt-on-Sea, and a boutique guesthouse, Seaspray Rooms, both in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.

 

Room rate From £90

 

Typical dishes Roasted fillet of cod on pancetta, fennel, chickpea and tomato stew

 

Websites www.rocksalt-on-sea.website; www.seasprayrooms.website

 

DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham

 

The Cheltenham Park hotel has relaunched as the DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham, following a £5m refurbishment. Its Lakeside restaurant offers modern English cuisine, with a choice of the Manor bar or Lilley Brook bar, along with 10 meeting rooms.

 

Bedrooms 148

 

Operator Michels & Taylor

 

General manager Syed Zaidi

 

Website www.doubletree3.hilton.com

 

Ibis Styles Manchester Portland hotel

 

This Ibis Styles hotel pays tribute to the weather in its design: giant umbrellas hang from the lobby ceiling, the Sunshine Room has blue walls, teardrop lights feature in the Rain Drop room, and the Breezy room is decorated with leaf-print flooring.

 

Operator Amaris Hospitality

 

General manager Emad Barday

 

Starting rate £71 for a double room B&B

 

Website www.ibis.com

 

Blacklock

 

Meat and cocktail concept Blacklock has opened its second site. The restaurant is located in an old electricity substation in a Grade II-listed building on the site of a medieval meat market in the City of London. Like its first outpost, the restaurant will offer ‘cocktails for a fiver' and wine on tap.

 

Covers 100

 

Typical dishes Rib-eye steaks; maple bacon chops; roasted chicken with Yorkshire pancakes

 

Website www.theblacklock.com

 

Polpo

 

A new Polpo has opened in Exeter, styling itself as a bacaro (a humble Venetian restaurant serving simple food and young Italian wines). It will also offer a breakfast and coffee menu of freshly baked croissants, sourdough bread and panini.

 

Founders Russell Norman and Richard Beatty

 

Typical dishes Roast stuffed pork with lentils and radicchio; crab and chilli linguine; pork and fennel meatballs

 

Website www.polpo.co.uk