| One of the few positive aspects of the recent | | | | Boulud, which is already a big success across the |
| economic climate is that we, as consumers, have | | | | pond. The Zetter hotel in Clerkenwell will welcome |
| become far more discerning and demanding. We have | | | | Bruno Loubet back to London and into the kitchen, |
| become more cautious about spending money, but | | | | Michel Roux Junior will open 'Roux at Parliament |
| when we do indulge, we want to maximise our | | | | Square', Gordon Ramsay Holdings will re-launch Petrus, |
| spending power. Consequently, those who provide us | | | | and Pierre Koffman is rumoured to be looking for a |
| with these goods and services will have to adapt to | | | | venue for another venture following the success of his |
| satisfy our changing needs and demands, and 2010 will | | | | pop-up restaurant. Looks like we'll all be moving up a |
| hopefully be the year of wanting, and achieving, | | | | weight category in 2010. |
| exactly what we want and doing so with value for | | | | Themed Dining |
| money. | | | | Something completely different that might take its |
| Pop-Ups | | | | place on the London dining scene this year is the |
| In London's bar and restaurant scene, 2009 was, | | | | emergence of the entertainment-focused restaurant. |
| unquestionably, the year of the pop-up. The popular | | | | Proud Cabaret opened in the City in late 2009 and in |
| Double Club in Clerkenwell, the Bombay Sapphire Dusk | | | | January 2010, Circus opened in Covent Garden, with |
| Bar at Somerset House and Pierre Koffman's rooftop | | | | striking interiors designed by Tom Dixon. |
| restaurant at Selfridge's to name a few. This trend is | | | | Bring Your Own |
| set to continue well into 2010, with Sketch running a | | | | A current, widely discussed, hot restaurant topic is the |
| pop-up cafe as part of the GSK Contemporary | | | | ability, or otherwise, to bring your own alcohol to a |
| exhibition at the Royal Academy until the end of | | | | restaurant and the subsequent corkage fee. |
| January. Restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas has | | | | Restaurants are, as a rule, hesitant to implement this |
| also recently announced a series of pop up nights in | | | | trend, but with consumers having so much influence on |
| March at her Putney restaurant with celebrated chefs | | | | a restaurant's success, people power might succeed in |
| from The Square, Chez Bruce and Le Café Anglais, | | | | 2010. |
| among others, to raise money for Action Against | | | | Hotel Bars |
| Hunger's campaign for Haiti. The pop-up craze has | | | | Along with the continuation of the pop-up scenario, |
| also made its way to hotels, with Visit London and the | | | | another big focus this year will be on the hotel bar |
| Radisson Edwardian launching the world's smallest | | | | scene. The Connaught hotel elevated the hotel bar to |
| pop-up hotel at various sites across London in March, | | | | new heights throughout 2009, but with the emergence |
| consisting of a caravan doubling up as a mini boutique | | | | of many new luxury hotels due in 2010, including The |
| hotel. | | | | Savoy, the Four Seasons on Park Lane, the W Hotel |
| Underground Restaurants | | | | and the Dorchester Collection's 45 park Lane, we |
| Another big trend for 2009 was the 'underground | | | | could be in for a year of very stiff martinis. |
| restaurant', with aspirational chefs opening up their | | | | Social Workout |
| homes to cook for strangers. The success of The | | | | Towards the end of the Summer of 2009, the |
| Loft by Nuno Mendes in Dalston and the current praise | | | | re-launched Dorchester Spa in the Dorchester Hotel |
| for guerrilla restaurants such as Sheen Suppers | | | | introduced the ethos of 'a little of what you love is |
| means that the novelty factor might not simmer out | | | | good for you' with the Spatisserie concept - a place to |
| for a while yet. On a food note, small sharing plates | | | | have afternoon tea and champagne after a visit to the |
| and 'international tapas' was a big theme in 2009 and | | | | hotel's spa or gym. 2010 may see this trend continuing |
| this looks set to continue with the latest triumph, Polpo, | | | | with fitness centres embracing the concept of |
| a Venetian bacaro in Soho, having already found a site | | | | combining pleasures and offering a more social focus |
| for its second venue. | | | | to fitness. |
| Hearty Fare | | | | Travel Tips |
| Nostalgic, hearty and British food is lined up for a | | | | For European travel, the regular hotspots are likely to |
| welcome return during 2010. Dean Street Townhouse | | | | remain popular this year, including Ibiza, the Cote d'Azur |
| and Hix Soho have already established this food | | | | and Mykonos, with the emergence of Croatia and |
| scene, and it looks set to continue with the re-opening | | | | Montenegro in the South East. On an international |
| of the Savoy Grill and Heston Blumenthal's first foray | | | | basis, Brazil remains a hot destination, with South |
| into the London restaurant scene at the Mandarin | | | | Africa becoming a feature to coincide with the World |
| Oriental later this year. St John and Hawksmoor both | | | | Cup. |
| have plans to roll out their brands to other sites in the | | | | The focus is likely to be on bespoke holidays, |
| West End during the year as well. | | | | specifically tailored to the individual, and ensuring value |
| Culinary Heavyweights | | | | for money, which could see luxury destinations offering |
| The big-hitters are certainly getting ready to invade | | | | their version of all-inclusive, and eco-luxury is certain to |
| London during 2010 - Along with Heston, Daniel Boulud, | | | | regain prominence. New hotels are expected to focus |
| one of the most coveted chefs in the US, is set to | | | | on a 'country house chic' vibe, in contrast to the |
| open a restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental with his Bar | | | | dominance of minimalism in recent years. |