Charlotte Wilde to launch Darling wine bar in Dalston

bar, restaurant and production space Darling will open on the former site of dim sum restaurant Shanghai, and pie and mash shop F. Cooke, in a 50-cover Grade II-listed property off Kingsland Road.

The opening is in partnership with Andy Bird, a specialist in east London hospitality restoration projects.

The kitchen will be headed up by Australian chef Dan Wilson, who founded now-closed brunch restaurant Dandy in Stoke Newington. It will comprise an a la carte menu of modern European dishes, as well as an extensive bar snacks menu.

The wine list at Darling will be curated by Wilde, and a list of cocktails will be designed by Tom Soden of creative agency Destructive Lines and Nine Lives cocktail bars.

Uniforms will be designed by Patrick Grant, also of Destructive lines, and owner of high-fashion brand E.Tautz.

The restaurant replaces F.Cooke, which has stood on the site since 1910, and its traditional blue tiles will remain on the walls in respect of its Grade-II listed status.

“I am so excited to be opening this versatile space in the heart of such a vibrant community, and in such an iconic venue,” says Wilde.

“I can’t wait to bring a fresh offering to London’s wine scene that will make brilliant wines accessible and affordable.”

Wilde is no longer involved with Sager + Wilde, the wine bar and restaurant that bears her name, which she co-founded with Michael Sager in 2013.