New neighbourhood restaurant to open in Fulham

Billed as a 'West London hangout', the 35-seat restaurant is a collaboration between restaurateur Scarlett Guess and chef Alastair Prichard, who runs West London catering company Alastair David.

Styled as a café by day, the venue will serve an 'extensive' breakfast menu ranging from croissants to full English breakfasts and brunch dishes such as hash browns and hot smoked salmon. Freshly squeezed orange juice, smoothies and Workshop coffee will be on offer and sourdough bread will available for guests to toast at their own table, alongside home-made jams and marmalade.

Lunch will consist of a special ‘toastie’ menu alongside soups, salads and sandwiches on artisan bread. Cakes will be baked on the premises and displayed in a glass counter for guests to eat-in or takeaway. A children’s menu and cordial will also be available, with crayons and paper provided.

In the evening, the menu will focus on steaks sourced directly from Lake District farmers, served with unlimited chips and salads. There will also be daily changing specials and a menu of small plates such as endive with celeriac and ham remoulade and beetroot, squash, goats’ cheese and croutons.

There will be an ‘affordable and concise’ wine list of red, white, rosé and sparkling English wines, as well as cocktails. The dessert menu will include ice cream, cakes and Neal’s Yard Cheeses.

Home-from-home​

Guess told BigHospitality that she ended up working with Prichard almost by chance.

“We were independently looking to open sites of our own,” she explained. “I hired Nicola Harding Design and she introduced me to her brother in law, which was Alastair. It made sense to work together as our expertise complement each other.”

She said they wanted to create a neighbourhood restaurant with a welcoming ‘home-from-home’ environment that offers ‘simple quality food with great flavour’.

“Poppy’s Place is a home from home spot for locals to meet up, although we hope with more stylish interiors and tastier food,” she explained.

“We wanted to offer the local community a destination where everyone is welcome. From those after a coffee on the way to work, weekend brunch and bloody Mary’s, mothers and children after an afternoon break and couples or groups after a supper spot.”