Simon Rogan's Aulis to refit and drop 'all-in' pricing

Currently a seat at the L'Enclume chef's exclusive eight-seater chef's table concept costs £195 per person inclusive of all food and drinks with the service charge also included.

But the St Anne's Court restaurant will reopen towards the end of August with a more traditional pricing structure, offering a £125 tasting menu plus various pairings options alongside individually priced drinks.   

Such an approach reduces the entry level price and also opens up the possibility of some diners spending larger amounts on top wines, but Umbel Group managing director Sam Ward says the change is being introduced to give customers more choice. 

"We now have three Aulis restaurants (one in London, one in Cartmel and one in Hong Kong). When we launched in Hong Kong we had to offer something that was more flexible in terms of drinks - frankly many people in Hong Kong don't drink. This pushed us to create more interesting options."

"There was time when everyone just wanted a wine flight with their food but now people are much more open to non-alcoholic or a mixed flight, with some alcoholic and some non-alcoholic drinks."

Expected to be completed during Aulis' annual two-week summer closure, the refit will see Aulis retain its stripped-back, industrial look. 

"The key change will be the focus being taken off the less glamorous area to the back of the space to direct the customers attention to the pass," says Ward. "We're going to create an enclosure. People will know it's there but it won't be distracting. The way the space is lit will change too to put even more of an emphasis on the pass."  

The changes at Aulis - which launched in London in 2017​​ and is currently overseen by executive head chef Oli Marlow and head chef Charlie Tayler - come amidst what looks to be a busy period for the group.

Refurbs at nearly all sites planned and various new projects are in the works, including the possibility of a new London site for Roganic, which closed last year making Aulis the chef's sole site in the capital.