April at a glance
We’re all guilty of ignoring what’s on our doorstep, so we’ve made it easier for you. Here’s what’s happening this month
IN Notting Hill, The Pelican–a dog-friendly, oak-panelled pub on All Saints Road, W11– has finally opened after a long refurbishment and soft launch (www.thepelicanw11.com). Just down the road, The Ledbury has re-opened at the same site it vacated in June 2020 (www. theledbury.com). In Borough Yards, part of Borough Market, SE1, there’s already fierce competition for a table at Brother Marcus, an all-day-dining, eastern-mediterranean restaurant and the third site from the eponymous group (www.brothermarcus.co.uk). In central London, Richoux is back at 172, Piccadilly, W1, after its parent company fell into administration in 2021. It had long struggled to keep up with competition in Green Park and St James’s and had become something of a gimmicky tourist trap, but new owners Jamie Butler and Lewis Spencer have promised to ‘create a Richoux that is relevant for diners today’ (www.richoux.co.uk). In Marylebone, you’ll find Kol, which creates mouth-watering Mexican food out of British ingredients. The burnt-orange walls and oxblood-red leather banquettes are like a much-needed dose of vitamin D (www. kolrestaurant.com). Finally, further east, there’s Trattoria Brutto, EC1, a Florentine trattoria that’s already winning rave reviews from critics (the £5 negronis might be playing a part) and the Caravan group’s latest outpost in Canary Wharf, E14 (https:// msha.ke/brutto; www.caravan restaurants.co.uk).