Newington Green, home to a very photogenic greengrocers amongst other things, will have an exciting new place to visit from next month. Jolene, a bakery and restaurant, is from the team behind Primeur and Westerns Laundry. For this project, they’re joined by farmer Andy Cato, whose grains will be milled for the baked goods and pastas. The all-day restaurant will celebrate great produce in small dishes, with a stripped-back wine list.

Soho House just keeps growing. Next up is Redchurch Townhouse, on Whitby Street in Shoreditch, with 37 bedrooms in a mid-century style. Within the site will be a new branch of the Italian favourite Cecconi’s, the first in east London, serving the pasta and cicchetti for which it’s known. The restaurant will also display work by 40 artists under 40, many curated from those living and working in the area.

Still on an Italian tip, and with a 1950s vibe, is a brand new Harry’s Bar, coming to James Street in October. The all-day restaurant will be a boon for Oxford Street shoppers and offers what owners Caprice Holdings call ‘unfussy Italian’ dishes. Head chef is Diego Cardoso, who opened Harry’s Dolce Vita, and worked at Murano before that. Harry’s Bar will also utilise the large outdoor terrace that the St Christopher’s Place site allows.

Meanwhile nearby, a craft cocktail bar will open inside a converted Victorian pub offering customers control over their drinks… Genuine Liquorette will mix liquor store with cocktail bar and it sounds as if almost anything is possible, as the bar staff custom-build drinks (you can also have a play via their website). The opening, inspired in look by New York bodegas, is planned to launch in September on Rathbone Place.

New season, new restaurants. Next Monday Farmer J launches in London Bridge, offering the busy area all-day dining with a ‘field-to-City’ approach. There will be weekend sharing brunches too. Meanwhile Bife has already thrown open its doors: the Argentinian beef-focused restaurant in Aldgate will also showcase other produce and dishes from Latin America. And Le Bab’s Covent Garden spin-off, Maison Bab, will open on 17 September, with proper kebabs - and a ‘hidden’ 10-seater fine-dining room Kebab Queen inside.

The Dumbwaiter mentioned the fact that Flavour Bastard seemed to be closed; CODE reads on Eater London that it’s temporary and will re-open after extraction unit maintenance. Meanwhile Platform 1 in Dulwich, a showcase kitchen where both Perilla and Smoke & Salt got their first leg-up into restaurants, is no longer available to book.

Another former National Chef of the Year (2014) has a new job. Russell Bateman will be head chef at Petrus. The Knightsbridge restaurant owned by Gordon Ramsay is not new to Bateman, he had worked there under Marcus Wareing in its earlier incarnation and has also worked with Aiden Byrne and Daniel Clifford. He joins from Colette’s at The Grove hotel, which is currently on summer hiatus.

D&D London has announced Frederick Forster as head chef at Plateau. Forster has worked with some of the biggest names in restaurants both in the UK and abroad, and was National Chef of the Year in 2013. He joins the Canary Wharf restaurant from Bleeding Heart’s Don and will bring classic and modern French tweaks to the menu, as well as influences from his globe-trotting career.

London chefs on tour, part one. Spring’s inspiring leader Skye Gygnell becomes chef in residence for one special day at Tate Britain on 8 September. She will run a preserving and pickling masterclass in the historic gallery’s community garden before cooking a special menu inspired by its produce.

London chefs on tour, part two. Jeremy Lee, of Soho stalwart Quo Vadis, will be travelling deep into Cornwall for a residency at Coombeshead Farm. The much-loved farm-restaurant with rooms is, of course, run by Tom Adams with April Bloomfield - and Lee will cook a special lunch and dinner there on 23 September.

The Clove Club is an award-winning restaurant in Shoreditch. Since opening in 2013, the restaurant has established itself as one of the most ambitious restaurants in London.

We have since opened our sister restaurant, Luca, and are about to open Two Lights, as our third venture. We are looking to fill a number of positions across the group as we expand with passionate, skilled, hospitality professionals.

Click here to read more

We are looking for a General Manager to work directly with the Founder/Creative Director of this incredibly unique and growing business. Thyme is a haven of restorative calm.

It comprises rooms, cookery school, our own pub, spa and at the end of October, a new restaurant.  This is a hands on, outward facing role for a 5* luxury business that is elegant, understated and exclusive and the General Manager will need to epitomise these qualities.

Click here to read more

Fay Maschler reviews Masala Zone, Soho

Tom Parker Bowles reviews The Heron, Paddington

The rise and fall of the TV chef

Meet the all-female collectives helping women get ahead in hospitality

Tues 28 August

• 1251 by James Cochran opens
 
• Farmer J soft launch

Wed 29 August

• Bibendum Wine: Healthy Wine Minds
 
• Manifesto soft launch

Sat 1 September

• Chinese Food Festival 2018
 
• Tim Spedding at Giant Steps

Sun 2 September

• Local Legends at Ace Hotel: Happiness Forgets

Netflix is launching a global culinary competition called The Final Table. It will feature chefs from around the world competing for the rights for a place at the final table to take on nine famous and celebrated chefs including the UK’s Clare Smyth.

Who hasn’t published their own cookbook these days? Rapper Snoop Dogg is creating a guide to his favourite recipes, From Crook to Cook. Let’s hope he doesn’t Drop It Like It’s Hot when he’s in the kitchen.

The Dumbwaiter spotted Raymond Blanc last week at POLPO in Soho. The chef – laden with Selfridges shopping bags and the FT – was enjoying some cichèti and a glass of red. Bon appétit, chef.

Meanwhile at The Big Feastival on Alex James's farm, Dermot O'Leary was spotted tucking into the Breddos Tacos x Patrón tequila feast with Millie Macintosh and gang. Looks like the potent cocktails certainly had the X factor. 

From Mayfair to Manchester. Click here to read The Dumbwaiter’s best bites of the week.

Friday & Saturday | 50% off drinks