There’s no denying that times are tough out there for the restaurant and hospitality industry. The recent Coronavirus outbreak has led to the enforced closure of all restaurants in the capital and there are lots of ongoing conversations surrounding the lasting impact this crisis will have on London’s dining scene.
Even before Covid-19 became the hot topic on everyone’s lips, London venues were falling victim to forced closure as a result of epic staff shortages, and the soaring costs of food, rent and business rates. We’ve seen massive chains and big-name chefs crumble under the pressures of an oversaturated market…and yet…still everyday brave entrepreneurs, passionate foodies and pro restaurateurs stand up to the challenges this tough environment presents, and force their way onto the scene with new and exciting dining concepts. Sure, opening a restaurant is just the beginning, but even so we salute them on the bravery of their ambition which is helping retain London’s position as one of the best cities in the world to eat out.
Gone are the days when British food was just ‘roast beef’ and ‘fish and chips’ – the UK is now renowned for its incredible diversity of cuisines, championing food from across the world and shining a light on cultural staples from every corner of the globe.
So fortunate are we living in this diverse city that sometimes we get cocky – we think we’ve seen it all – then out of nowhere – BOOM – up pops a new concept or cuisine that totally blows our minds. However, it’s not always the new ideas that really surprise us, sometimes it’s the classics; dishes we’ve eaten a hundred times before given a new lease of life, executed to perfection or granted a contemporary twist that elevates them to whole new levels of brilliance.
We like to think we’ve got our finger on the pulse when it comes to upcoming ventures, so to whet your appetite we’ve rounded up all the new restaurants set to open in London in 2020. Restaurants might be closed for now, but they will open again and London’s restaurant scene will get all of its glory back – we're sure of it. So, have a scroll and let your stomach rumble – if this list is anything to go by then we think there’s a good reason to still be excited for the future of London restaurants.