Russell Norman to open Polpo at Smithfield growing restaurant estate to six

Polpo Smithfield will be the third under the Polpo brand, following Polpo Soho and Polpo Covent Garden (originally opened under the Da Polpo name) and the sixth in the group, which includes Polpetto, Spuntino and Mishkins. 

The 70-cover restaurant will open on the site of the former Cucina Italian restaurant in Cowcross Street on 30 July.

Norman and Beatty, who have expanded from one to six sites in central London in just two and a half years, said they had spent 12 months searching for an appropriate site in that area. 

“We have always loved the unique character and atmosphere of Clerkenwell and have been looking for the right site for over a year. It is also great to be so close to such an iconic working market as Smithfield," said Norman.

Details​

Polpo Smithfield will serve the same Venetian small-plate menu as its fellow Soho and Covent Garden restaurants with daily specials and an express lunch menu. It will feature bar dining, traditional restaurant seating and space for 12 tables outside as well as a dedicated Negroni Bar in the restaurant's basement. 

Libby Greenfield, most recently senior sous chef to Florence Knight at Polpetto, which relocates to a new Soho location in September, has been appointed head chef of the new restaurant.