Anchor & Hope owners opening restaurant in Covent Garden

‘English bistro' duo set sail for Covent Garden

Two of the owners of the much feted gastropub The Anchor & Hope in London SE1 are opening a restaurant in Covent Garden, with Tom Norrington-Davies as Head Chef.

Great Queen Street, in the street of the same name, will open on the site of an old bar called the Rampage in April. Co-owner and Anchor and Hope Bar Manager Rob Shaw said they've been looking for another site for over a year.

"Because we're really into what we're doing at the Anchor & Hope, we were waiting for it to feel right," he explained.

The restaurant, which, unlike the Anchor & Hope, will take reservations, will seat 70-80 on the ground floor, which includes 12-14 at the ‘eating bar'. There is also a basement bar.

Norrington-Davies, writer and former chef at the Eagle, said, "I think it was Terry Durack who described the Anchor & Hope and the Eagle as English bistros and I think the term describes what we're going to be doing here. It'll be simple food with the best ingredients in season that haven't travelled far." He said the restaurant will use all parts of the animal and the kitchen will do its own butchery. Dishes will include Wild Garlic Soup, Shoulder of Lamb and Anchor & Hope classics such as Rib of Beef, Chips and Béarnaise, as well as lots of sharing dishes.

Co-owner and co-chef Jonathan Jones will remain based at the Anchor & Hope and will oversee Great Queen Street, while Shaw will be based at the new venture for at least the first six months.

Third Anchor & Hope co-founder Harry Lester left to set up a hotel restaurant in France.