Sessions Islington rebrands as Neighbourhood

18-Jan-2023 - Last updated on 18-Jan-2023 at 14:51 GMT

Image: Justin de Souza

London-based food hall Sessions Islington has rebranded as Neighbourhood and redesigned its interior, with Japanese food expert Ivan Orkin kicking off its new chef residency.

US-based Orkin will run a four-week residency at the venue from 9 February followed by a 12-week residency at Session’s Shelter Hall venue in Brighton.

His menu will showcase his signature mazemen dishes - a type of broth-less ramen - served in his ramen shops in Japan and New York.

"It’s been a dream of mine to launch in the UK for some time. The ramen scene in London is particularly exciting, and I can’t wait to introduce my food to a new audience of slurpers,” he says.

“Partnering with Sessions for residencies at their venues is the perfect way to launch Ivan Mazemen in the UK, before becoming more widely available through their delivery kitchens.”

Sessions was launched by former MD of Deliveroo Dan Warne with the opening of Shelter Hall in 2020. It followed this up with the opening of Sessions Islington last summer, which launched with chefs Hasan Semay, Jay Morjaria, Zoe Adjonyoh, and Richie Hayes and Elliot Kaye for their respective concepts Big Has, Tiger and Rabbit, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, and Norman’s.

The most recent operator to have taken up residency at the Islington venue is chef Kenny Tutt with his Patty Guy brand.