This week's openings: the Seven hotel, Farm Girl, On The Dak and more

This week's openings: the Seven hotel, Farm Girl, On The Dak and more

The Seven hotel
The Seven hotel has opened in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with a former British Culinary Foundation Chef of the Year overseeing the kitchen. The four-storey, 37-bedroom luxury boutique hotel on Clifton Terrace, overlooking the seafront, has benefited from a £4m investment.

The 70-cover Aurum restaurant, overseen by head chef Simon Webb, and its adjoining gin-centric bar, are focal points, with the restaurant serving modern British cuisine with an emphasis on Essex suppliers.

Webb was BCF Chef of the Year 2012, is captain of the English Culinary Team, was a finalist at National Chef of the Year 2018 and was previously head chef for Private Dining by Roux at the Langham hotel in London.

The hotel owners are Jawed Rashid and his sons-in-law, Sadiq Chikte and Omar Rahimi, and the hotel will be independently operated. Rashid bought the property, a former care home, in 2013.

Bedrooms 37
Owners Jawed Rashid, Sadiq Chikte and Omar Rahimi
Starting room rate £100
Head chef Simon Webb
Typical dishes Wild turbot, smoked celeriac, cockles and seaweed; and ‘Essex bird', black garlic, ceps and endive
Website www.thesevenhotel.co.uk

Balls Brothers Bar and restaurant operator Novus has opened its 11th Balls Brothers site in London's Canary Wharf. After a £500,000 refurbishment, the site spans two floors and boasts 132 internal covers with 107 additional external seats.

Covers 132
Operator Novus Group
Typical dishes Chicken supreme with quinoa, soya beans and butternut squash; truffle pasta with mushrooms and spinach; and Caesar salad
Website www.ballsbrothers.co.uk

By Chloe
US plant-based, fast-casual restaurant By Chloe has opened its first UK site in London's Covent Garden, offering grab-and-go items and seasonal market specials. A second site in Tower Bridge is set to open in spring.

Covers 70
Founder Samantha Wasser
Typical dishes Sweet potato mac'n'cheese; black bean, quinoa and sweet potato burger with corn salsa and guacamole; and quinoa taco salad
Website www.eatbychloe.com

Chimis
Chimis, an Argentinean Parrilla (grill) restaurant, is now open on London's Southwark Bridge Road. General manager Fugazza founded Porteña, an Argentinean street food stall in Borough Market, while head chef Modad was formerly at Brindisa.

Covers 44
Owners Federico Fugazza and Nicolas Modad
Typical dishes Chorizo pan with fries; chicken empanadas; sweetbreads with chimi lemon sauce
Website www.chimichurris.co.uk

Farm Girl
Farm Girl has opened a second London café in Chelsea; its first site with a dinner menu and cocktail bar. The menu is guided by seasonal produce and a farm-to-table approach.

Covers 90
Founders Rose Mann and Anthony Hood
Executive chef Benoit Marmoiton
Design Beata Heuman
Typical dishes Cod croquettes with green herb sauce; and lamb gyro with roasted pistachio yogurt
Website www.thefarmgirl.co.uk

Jurys Inn Southampton
Jurys Inn Southampton has revealed a £2.1m transformation of its bedrooms, bar, restaurant and lobby. The design gives a nautical nod to the history of the city, incorporating calming blues and greens. The bar and restaurant,
the Kitchen, offers a new contemporary dining menu, as well as lighter snacks, cocktails and an all-day Costa Coffee bar.

Bedrooms 270
General manager Darren Walsh
Website www.jurysinns.com/hotels/Southampton

On The Dak
On The Dak, a sister restaurant to the Korean street food brand On The Bab, has opened in London's Covent Garden. The menu features Korean-fried ‘dak' (chicken in Korean) as well as noodles and soup. A meat-free chibab is available, served with mushrooms and soy.

Founder Linda Lee
Typical dishes Chicken soup noodles; spicy Korean barbecue or sweet soy-fried chicken with kimchi; chicken and salad with rice
Website www.onthedak.co.uk

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