Restaurant and bar openings

Birmingham

Aalto Restaurant at Hotel La Tour
Albert Street, Birmingham B5 5JT

There seems to be a current surge of named restaurants springing up in hotels. The newest member is in the ever-expanding city of Birmingham and is
the Aalto Restaurant, which boasts a menu inspired by Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing. It was launched as part of the £24 million Hotel La Tour chain, which is the first of a few to be built by independent operator Hotel La Tour Ltd. Aalto Restaurant head chef Alex Penhaligon and Wareing have worked to create classic dishes with a modern twist, and they aim to use local artisan producers where possible and use only the best regional ingredients in their creations. Main courses include Hereford beef rib-eye steak in red wine sauce, served with horseradish and chips; and Cornish sea bass, with creamed leek, mussels and grain mustard, is the order of the day.
hotel-latour.co.uk/restaurant

Edinburgh

One Square
1 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SR

One Square ? an independent restaurant with its own brand and identity ? has opened at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh. Under the direction of executive chef Malcolm Webster, it aims to offer a"varied, mouthwatering menu in vibrant, stylish surroundings". With a focus on seasonal produce sourced within the UK, the menu offers fresh twists on Scottish-inspired classics, such as slow-cooked beef cheek in Leith Claret and Macsween haggis with fried duck eggs. Gin takes pride of place on the drinks menu, with more than 40 different varieties to choose from.
onesquareedinburgh.co.uk

Manchester

The Yacht Club
Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3JE

Attempting to bring the Côte d'Azur to Manchester is new Spinningfields pop-up bar, the Yacht Club, which will be situated in Hardman Square throughout the summer. Events will also be staged, and will include vintage fashion shows, classic car shows and outdoor films. The drinks menu features classic cocktails such as the Bardot, the Monte Carlo Mint Julep and the Boardwalk Bramble, alongside more traditional
drinks and an optional hire of leather day beds.

yachtclubmcr.com

London

Chase & Country Tails Terrace
Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols, 9-126 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ

Chase has attempted to bring the Herefordshire countryside (where its distillery is based) to the fifth floor of Harvey Nichols. The pop-up venue will have a traditional English country look and will aim to bring a virtual summer experience to the bar. Country-infused cocktails, including Gooseflower Fizz (Chase vodka combined with Chase Elderflower Liqueur, Harvey Nichols gooseberry jam, lemon and honey, topped with English sparkling wine), will add to the summery mix. In addition, Jonas Karlsson, Fifth Floor executive chef, has put together a selection of mini tasting dishes. The terrace will be open from June 4 to July 5.

harveynichols.com/restaurants/fifth-floor-london

Reform Social & Grill
Mandeville Place, London W1U 2BE

Bringing a quintessentially British experience, in the form of the classic British gentlemen's club, to the Mandeville Hotel in Marylebone Village, is new restaurant and bar the Reform Social & Grill. Due to open at the end of May 2012, the concept is aimed at shoppers enjoying Marylebone High Street stores, as well as resident hotel guests. The venue aims to offer an informal yet sophisticated experience, with quality at the fore of its British-inspired menu, using the finest ingredients sourced from around the British Isles. Main courses include items from the charcoal grill, including a double-cut porterhouse with smoked bone marrow for two. Bar snacks include the likes of duck faggots with game chips. Natural classics will appear on the drinks menu from both established brands and up-and-coming artisanal small-batch producers.

reformsocialgrill.co.uk

Market House
443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8LN

Going back to its roots is Market House in Brixton, south London, which aims to be a an unpretentious speakeasy bar, bistro and music hall that supports local and independent suppliers of organic beers, ales, ciders and wines. The building was built over 100 years ago as part of the Truman Brewery empire and has been restored to its former splendour. In the daytime and early evenings, it dons its bistro hat, sourcing much of its produce from suppliers of grass-fed and organic meats, sustainably sourced fish, and independent local traders for fruit and vegetables, such as organic Hereford beef burgers (the Market House Burger), and as far as music goes there are plenty of tropical beats to be had.

market-house.co.uk

If you would like your regional opening to appear in the At Your Service newsletter or in an issue of Harpers, please contact carol.emmas@wrbm.com.

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