Latest openings: Abbey Strand Apartments, Harbour Light, Vermut
Abbey Strand Apartments
Abbey Strand Apartments in Edinburgh is a royal-owned property that has been opened to the public by the Royal Collection Trust. It is located at the foot of Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile, on the doorstep of the Palace of Holyrood House, the Queen's official Scottish residence, and immediately opposite the Scottish Parliament.
Following a two-year renovation, the 500-year-old building has been converted into nine serviced apartments, each featuring historic fireplaces, original stone walls and painted ceiling beams. The colour scheme of the building, including the pale pink restored exterior, was designed in conjunction with Prince Charles who, as chairman of the Royal Collection Trust, was closely involved with the project.
- Opened 28 February
- Operator Lateral City
- Apartments Nine
- General manager Gavin MacLennan
- Starting rate £103 per night
- Websitewww.lateralcity.com
Harbour Light
Harbour Light in the seaside town of Paignton, south Devon, includes a bar, dining space, coffee shop and outdoor seating area. The Grade II-listed building, originally used to store fishing nets, has undergone a six-month restoration. It serves traditional pub food and locally sourced seafood.
- Proprietor St Austell Brewery
- Typical dishes West Country mussels; ovenbaked south west lobster; steak and Gem Ale pie
- Websitewww.harbourlightpaignton.co.uk
Vermut
The husband and wife team behind the Ultracomida deli-restaurant group and adjacent pintxos bar Curado have launched Vermut in Cardiff, a bar modelled on casual late-night venues found in Madrid. Charcuterie and Spanish cheeses can be ordered to complement the vermouth, sherry and Montilla-Moriles wines.
- Covers 30
- Founders Shumana Palit and Paul Grimwood
- Websitehttps://curadobar.com
Saffron Summer
Saffron Summer in Reigate, Surrey, is an Indian fine dining restaurant located at the former site of the Clove restaurant. The menu showcases a range of foods from the Indian sub-continent, including game dishes from Karnataka and seafood specialities from Goa.
- Founder Ralph Sousa
- Executive chef Awanish Roy
- Typical dishes Goan wild boar vindaloo; Keralan cod fish moily; Indo-Chinese curry leaf calamari
- Websitewww.saffronsummer.co.uk
Victorian House hotel
Victorian House hotel in Grasmere, Cumbria, is intended to be a ‘country cousin' to Serena von der Heyde's Georgian House in London's Pimlico. The Victorian building has been renovated with modern and eclectic design elements, including stargazer rooms with telescopes.
- Bedrooms 19
- Operations manager Dan Gatehouse
- Design Laura Fulmine
- Starting room rate £115
- Websitewww.victorianhousehotel.co.uk
Larry's
Larry's in London's Peckham is the latest restaurant by the team behind Salon and Levan. It offers a selection of Big Apple-style breakfasts and sharing plates for dinner.
- Founders Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell
- Design Gundry & Ducker
- Covers 28
- Typical dishes XO cabbage with clams and house-made XO chilli sauce
- Websitewww.larryspeckham.co.uk
Watch House
Following last year's acquisition of Fernandez & Wells, coffee bar and eatery Watch House has taken over the former site in Somerset House in London after a two-month fit-out. The new outlet, open from breakfast until 8.30pm, boasts a brew bar.
- Founder Roland Horne
- Typical dishes Banana buckwheat pancakes; shakshuka; burrata and prosciutto; grilled halloumi with honey and thyme; cheese boards
- Websitewww.thewatchhouse.com
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