Gilpin Spice, Windermere Jay Rayner for The Observer was in Windermere, visiting Gilpin Spice at Gilpin Lodge in the Lake District, described as “an act of bravery, fashioned from raw wood, vibrant dangling lampshades, tamarind, garlic, ginger, noodles and open guttering flames”. The food is best described as “Desi-Chinese food, a venerable amalgam of Chinese […]

Continue reading


Llanelli restaurant Sosban has closed – and “will not be reopening in the near future”, according to a website announcement. The full message reads: “Executive chef Andrew Sheridan and Sosban’s directors are sorry to announce that after long consideration and despite best efforts we are closed from Sunday 3 February 2019. “We would like to […]

Continue reading


“Fast ’n’ furious” Taiwanese bun favourite Bao is opening a third site in foodie Borough. The site, on the edge of Borough Market, will launch in spring next year, joining the two existing Bao shops in Soho and Fitzrovia. The new premises have the backing of JKS Restaurants, the ever-more omnipresent powers-behind-the-throne of numerous well-liked […]

Continue reading


Penally Abbey hotel in picturesque Tenby, Wales, is relaunching its two-AA rosette restaurant as Rhosyn today (Friday 8). Rhosyn means rose in Welsh. The restaurant has undergone an extensive refurbishment and will exist as a more relaxed eating space. The food will draw on Pembrokeshire’s fine produce, with a new menu featuring the likes of […]

Continue reading


Monsieur Le Duck, London E1 Jay Rayner for The Observer visited the nostalgic new pop-up from City worker-turned-restaurateur Richard Humphreys, who dreamed of Gascony, with its restaurants serving duck confit and red wine, and decided to bring his dreams to Liverpool Street. The result is “delightful in a low-key, sweetly romantic way”; the “narrow frame […]

Continue reading