Launch dates are liable to get moved about — we've listed details where available but check in with the venues for the latest word on their openings.
Santo Remedio, London Bridge
We were fans of the first Santo Remedio, a Mexican restaurant and bar that unfortunately didn't survive long in its Shoreditch location. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign they've found a new London site for their second coming. We're hoping for some of the same emphasis on local and seasonal sourcing as their first restaurant: it was a Slow Food member, with even the Chihuahua cheese coming from Gringa Dairy in Peckham. Stand-out dishes included chicken wings sticky with chipotle and dark chocolate mole, and hibiscus flower and cheese quesadillas.
Santo Remedio, 152 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU.
The Lampery, Fenchurch Street
Reading Samuel Pepys's diaries is a sure way to work up an appetite — all those sprawling dinners and raucous drinking sessions. And we're not the only ones who think that: this new restaurant takes Pepys as its muse, with a menu inspired by several dishes that feature in his diaries, like Lampery Pye — made with slow-braised beef cheek and prunes. Not all of the food's faithfully of the era, but indulgence is a common thread, with goose fat potato rostis in the fry-up and treacle-pickled quails' eggs. Sounds like a fittingly indulgent tribute to Pepys: a man who, realising the Great Fire of London was moving his way, paused to bury a wheel of Parmesan in his garden for its protection.
The Lampery, 1 Seething Lane, EC3N 4AX.
Cub, Hoxton
The London bar scene sits up and pays attention when Ryan Chetiyawardana opens a new place. Even if he's burying his last place to do it. Apparently not up for resting on Dandelyan's laurels, after it won World's Best Bar at the Spirited Awards 2017, Chetiyawardana — you might know him as Mr Lyan — is shutting down his Hoxton bar and reopening it as a restaurant, in partnership with Doug McMaster of zero waste Brighton restaurant Silo. Expect high-concept drinks, and an emphasis on sustainability.
Cub, 153 -155 Hoxton Street, N1 6PJ.
Canova Hall, Brixton
A new, south of the river branch for Hackney bar-restaurant Martello Hall - and this one's a one-stop shop for Brixton locals. The things they can offer you here include a place to work and a supply of good coffee during the day, creative cocktails by night and smoky rigatoni or 'nduja-topped pizza when you damn well please. Vinyl and decks. Takeaway gin available from their on-site distillery. Open till 1am at weekends. It's ticking a lot of the same boxes as its older sister.
Canova Hall, 250 Ferndale Road, SW9 8BQ.
Blade Hairclubbing, Soho
Blade Hairclubbing offers to get you styled up and liquored up at the same time. A hybrid of hair salon and members' bar, there's a small team of stylists and a short menu of craft beer, whiskies and cocktails — and the bars, restaurants and clubs of Soho on your doorstep when you're finished. Does pre-gaming get more efficient than this?
Blade Soho, 26 Frith Street, W1D 5LD.
Cottons, Vauxhall
The most recent opening from Caribbean rum shack Cottons comes to Vauxhall this September, promising the same jerk chicken and saltfish fritter menus and enormous rum collection as their Curtain Road branch. From our visit to the latter — you can watch the video here - we'd recommend going there hungry, and with room for starters.
Cottons, Unit 12, Flagstaff House, St George's Wharf, SW8 2LE. Open 14 September, 50% off food during soft launch from 14-19 September. Quote 'Welcome Cottons Vauxhall' when booking.
Wringer and Mangle, Spitalfields
The new Wringer and Mangle branch sounds like it'll be on similar lines to the original Hackney site — promising bottomless brunches and a deli section for takeaway sandwiches and cakes, easing into bar vibes in the evening. This one has a downstairs space with DJs and events, including Friday nights hosted by drag cabaret royalty Sink The Pink.
Wringer & Mangle, 94 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ.
More food and drink news for September
It's not the newest of news, as grouse season kicked off on the 'Glorious 12th' in August. But September is when London's grouse menus start hitting their stride, restaurants confident in their sourcing and supply. 45 Jermyn Street in St James's and The Don in the City are representing the statelier side of things — the latter also serving up venison and wild partridge as part of their seasonal game menu. And Bocca di Lupo in Soho are giving their game some traditional Italian bravura: serving new season grouse grilled, with figs and treviso, or coniglio all'Ischitana — braised rabbit with tomato and chilli.
A Hokkaido-inspired menu, Wagyu burgers, vegan ramen and 50s Japanese subculture decor are coming to Soho, courtesy of Ichibuns.
And Smith & Whistle are doing their best to make you feel alright about the start of autumn with a new pie and mash pairing menu, available from 23 September.
