The Ledbury has been closed for nearly two years. It was one of the first apparent casualties of the pandemic and it was heavily mourned on social media. But it wasn’t long before there was talk the Notting Hill restaurant hadn’t gone for good, and would, in some capacity, return.
After much speculation, the restaurant’s top man Brett Graham, who owns it with Phil Howard and Nigel Platts-Martin, has finally discussed the matter of relaunching. In an interview with Restaurant magazine, the Aussie-born chef said it will reopen later this month, on Tuesday to Saturday evenings, with a tasting menu only. Lunch on Fridays and Saturdays will begin in March.
Graham said the menu will comprise about eight courses and will rise from £165 to £185. Removing a la carte, the chef said, alongside reducing the number of services will allow the team to deliver the level of experience The Ledbury was known for before Covid hit.
There will still be telling changes. “Though in many ways this is a continuation of what has come before, I see this is the start of a new journey for us,” he told Restaurant. “The old Ledbury is no more, and we have a new sense of direction and purpose.”
There were rumours the restaurant would relaunch as a brasserie. Graham said these were untrue. The dining room is in the process of being redone, however – designer Rose Murray from These White Walls is giving it a more “contemporary, naturalistic look” – and covers will drop from 55 to 45.
Many of the old team will come back, including restaurant manager Jack Settle and assistant Jeremy Harvey. With former head chef Jack Leach now at The Hartwood Arms, former Kitchen Table head chef Tom Spenceley will take over in the kitchen.
This will surely be one of the standout reopenings, or indeed openings, of 2022. We look forward to seeing the discourse. Well, most of it.
First published in our sister publication CODE Hospitality
