Luke Selby at Palé Hall
Le Manoir’s loss is Palé Hall’s gain as garlanded young chef Luke Selby settles into a new five star setting, this time near Bala in Snowdonia. This part of Wales has been underserved when it comes to culinary sparkle but where Luke goes – and where his brothers Nathaniel and Theo follow – I plan to be close behind. This is the chef’s first official month overseeing all parts of the estate’s dining and it will be a few months yet before the fine dining restaurant is relaunched so hold fire before making the trip.
WHEN From January 2026
WHERE Palé Estate, Bala LL23 7PS
FOLLOW @palehallhotel @lukeselbychef
BOOK palehall.co.uk/luke-selby
Tiella
Throat-catchingly peppery olive oil, a fragrant bay leaf panna cotta, Pugliese pasta cooked straight from the heart. Those are my fond memories of Dara Klein’s standout debut at Islington’s Compton Arms which came to a close at the end of 2024. Her first proper restaurant – or, rather, trattoria – opens this month and looks set to become a Columbia Road institution as beloved as the 15-year-old Brawn where Klein worked as a commis chef early on in her career.
WHEN January 2026
WHERE 109 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 7RL
FOLLOW @tiella_trattoria
BOOK tiella.co.uk
In Lamentation
Despite Psycho Sandbar getting lost in the weeds of Michael O’Hare’s idiosyncrasies, there’s no doubt he’s chef with thundering talent and an expansive creative vision. Where most tasting menus blend into a hazy memory of expensive ingredients and glossy French saucing, I vividly remember the fireworks of flavour at Man Behind the Curtain many years down the line. His new restaurant in the polite West Yorkshire village of Boston Spa is unlikely to be as immersive as the previous subterranean lair in Leeds city centre, but with only 16 seats it will be an intimate and most probably thrilling dining experience all the same.
WHEN 26th February 2026
WHERE 174 High Street, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, LS23 6BW
FOLLOW @ohare.michael
BOOK inlamentation.com
Outlaw’s Bistro
Another top chef downsizing for 2026 is Nathan Outlaw who is selling the premises of his flagship Outlaw’s New Road and will open an intimate bistro across the road in his guest house. What will be missed in striking views over the Atlantic coastline and fine dining flourishes will be made up for in knowing you’ll be eating some of the finest British fish cooking found anywhere. Given the number of regulars Outlaw has gathered over the years, I expect bookings will be snapped up hungrily. Move fast, if you know what’s good for you.
WHEN 3rd April 2026
WHERE 1 The Terrace, Port Isaac PL29 3SG
FOLLOW @nathanoutlaw
BOOK outlaws.co.uk
Impala
Like the next pearl in the string of London neighbourhoods getting their restaurant glow-up, Soho is building momentum with the incoming Osteria Vibrato (a successor of sorts to the Laughing Heart), Tamila (from the Tamil Crown and Tamil Prince group), a new Forza Wine, an unconfirmed collaboration between Sertaç Dirik (Mangal II) and David Carter (Manteca, Oma, Agora), and this humdinger: a new restaurant from the Super 8 group which expertly turns out modern icons like Mountain, Kiln and Brat. Like its stablemates, Impala has been years in the making and is led by Meedu Saad, a brilliantly original talent in the kitchen.
WHEN Spring 2026
WHERE 14 Dean St, London W1D 3RS
FOLLOW @meedu_saad
BOOK impalasoho.com
James and Maria Close at Rockliffe Hall
Bringing chef power couple James and Maria Close on board at Rockliffe Hall was owner Steve Gibson’s move to establish his golf hotel as a major culinary destination. Even the interim Terra by James Close was impressive despite its makeshift setting in the spa café. What we’re really waiting for – and have been since 2024 – is the standalone restaurant currently under construction in the grounds. With a supporting cast of key players from the exceptional Raby Hunt, this is likely to be a beacon of the North East and far beyond.
WHEN Summer 2026
WHERE Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Hurworth on Tees, Darlington, County Durham DL2 2DU
FOLLOW @rockliffe_hall
BOOK rockliffehall.com
