It has been revealed that London is bucking the national trend for restaurant closures, with the number of major openings planned for the capital this autumn being higher than this time last year.
Autumn/winter is considered by many as the peak season for restaurant openings and a recently conducted poll has revealed that more proposed restaurant openings have been announced than at this same time last year. Currently, 67 new openings have been confirmed for the season, compared to only 63 at this time in 2018.
The poll, conducted by restaurant website Hot Dinners, is evidence that London’s dining scene has proved itself to be resilient against the raft of closures seen both in the capital and across the rest of the UK.
Jason Atherton's latest restaurant will open this September
Despite several high street chains and restaurants of note having permanently closed their doors across Britain this year, there are some much-anticipated openings which London diners have to look forward to. These include The Betterment in Grosvenor Square from Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton (housed inside The Biltmore hotel), and the second branch of Ivy Asia, which follows the brand’s Manchester debut and will take over the space in One New Change previously occupied by Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa.
The poll’s results are a positive bit of news at a time when 18 restaurants close per week in the UK, more than 900 each year. Challenges that the restaurant industry has faced in recent times include competition from food delivery apps which are growing in popularity, and steep rises in rents and rates.
The Ivy Collection has thrived despite the spate of restaurant closures seen around the country
In May of this year, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver saw his entire restaurant empire collapse, leading to the closure of most of his Jamie’s Italian sites, as well as his high-end offerings Fifteen and Barbecoa. Oliver is not the only major high street name to flounder this year though, with other mid-market staples such as Carluccio’s, Strada and Byron Burger all closing several of their locations in recent months.
To keep on track of all the upcoming restaurant launches in the capital, check out our list of London restaurants coming soon.