Tate Britain readies for re-launch of Rex Whistler restaurant

Tate Britain's dining space is set to reopen as the Rex Whistler restaurant next week, following a multi-million-pound refurbishment at the art gallery on London's Millbank.

The art-deco style, 85-cover restaurant will open on 19 November featuring a menu developed by head chef Nathan Brewster and overseen by food historian Joanna Cheetham, who specialises in historic British food trends.

Serving lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, the Rex Whistler's menu will focus on traditional dishes gathered from around the London boroughs, such as coddling apples from Hampstead, and the eponymous Chelsea bun.

Tate Catering will source produce from specialist providers, including fish delivered daily from Newlyn in Cornwall and meat from Scotland's Donald Russell. Meals will be priced from £21 for two courses and £27 for three courses.

Hamish Anderson, Tate's wine buyer since 1997 and a columnist in the Telegraph Magazine, has curated the restaurant's wine list, which will feature classic European bottles, a "judicious range of highlights" and a selection of English wines.

The new opening will also see contemporary mural The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats by Rex Whistler go on display afresh, having itself undergone restoration as part of the project.

Andrew Downs, head of operations at Tate Britain, said: "After 18 months of continuous restoration and development, we are delighted to have finalised the new menus which have been designed with careful consideration to include elements of Tate's history as well as bringing in up-to-date trends."

As well as the refurbishment of the Whistler Restaurant, Tate Britain's £45m development project includes the reopening of the gallery's main entrance, a new archive gallery and the new Djanogly Café.