Phil Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas to open Church Road restaurant on former Sonny's site

Church Road, which is set to open on 17 September, will see Mascarenhas and Howard bringing in Sam Astley-Dean – previously a sous chef at the pair’s Elystan Street restaurant in Chelsea – to run kitchen.

Elystan Street’s general manager Alan Parry will also join the Church Road team to oversee the front of house operation.

According to Absolutely London​​​, the Church Street menu will feature ‘simple, brutally seasonal, ingredient-led cooking’ with Howard overseeing the restaurant’s culinary direction alongside Astley-Dean.

“It’s not ground-breaking but it’s the obvious answer,” says Astley-Dean of the menu.

 “It’ll be really delicious, well-made, comforting but also… yes just great food.”

Astley-Dean adds that one of the most enjoyable parts of the job so far has been being able to come up with endless ideas.

“My mind goes a million miles an hour, so the challenge is in restraining it,” he says

“That’s where Phil and Rebecca’s experience comes in, their level-headedness keeps things in check.”

Sonny’s Kitchen, which was Rebecca Mascarenhas’ first restaurant, closed its doors back in July after 33 years of operating.

As well as Elystan Street, Mascarenhas and Howard also continue to co-own Kitchen W8 in Kensington.