Some of the best food in London right now isn’t going to be around for long. In the current financial climate, when venue closures are constant (2025 is being hailed by some as the “worst year ever” for restaurants in the UK), residencies bridge a gap between pop-ups and supper clubs and permanent bricks-and-mortar sites. Residencies give chefs the leeway to concentrate on food while the venue looks after all the complexities involved with running a space.
Chef and author Marie Mitchell has hosted a number of supper clubs, pop-ups and long-term residencies over the years. “I like the residency set-up because you can really sink your teeth into a space, and get to try things, get feedback and build on it,” she tells Broadsheet.
The length of residencies varies – some even lasting a year – but their temporary nature means you need to head along before they close forever. Here are seven of the best residencies happening in London this summer.
Marie Mitchell at Hometipple, Walthamstow
At bar and wineshop Hometipple, Marie Mitchell is serving dishes that explore her Caribbean heritage – a continuation of the themes in her debut book Kin. Her menu is broken into small and large plates, all of which are shareable and can be paired with wines by the glass, selected from Hometipple’s 300-strong collection of bottles. Mitchell’s famed roti makes an appearance alongside saltfish buljol, plus there are jerk chicken wings with candied scotch bonnet, a whole baked bass escovitch and a series of other dishes bringing bold, fresh flavours perfect for summer evenings. Until August 30
34 Orford Road, E17 9NJ
hometipple.com
@hometipple.e17
Ling Ling’s at The Bluecoats, Tottenham
Ling Ling’s – which last popped up at The Gun on Well Street in Hackney – has found a new temporary home at The Bluecoats pub in Tottenham. Jenny Phung and James Shepherd’s food is influenced by Phung’s Chinese heritage, but also reflects London’s diversity and dynamism – think smaller shared dishes of Sichuan chicken wings and poached smoked tofu and lime leaf wontons, as well as bigger dishes like beef ragu noodles – spiked with Mala, a Chinese chilli seasoning. Plus, once summer ends it’ll be bringing back its Sunday roast, which is infused with a few Chinese twists (including five-spice pork belly and miso gravy). Until xxx
614 High Road, N17 9TA
thebluecoatspub.com
@ling_lings_
Faber at Holborn Dining Room, Rosewood London, Holborn
Faber already has a restaurant space in Hammersmith – but its residency at the handsome marble-clad Holborn Dining Room gives owner Ollie Bass the chance to bring his sustainably sourced seafood to a whole new audience. The Seafood Counter celebrates coastal British flavours with a tasting menu of eight courses, plus snacks. There are oysters, both naked and cooked; trout tartare with keta caviar; lobster with a deep umami sourdough glaze; and John Dory in a rich eel sauce. Ongoing.
252 High Holborn Rosewood, WC1V 7EN
rosewoodhotels.com
@faberrestaurants
Dante at Islington Arts Club, Islington
After various pop-ups around town, chefs Taylor Sessegnon-Shakespeare and Louis Korovilas (both ex-Pied a Terre) are putting down (temporary) roots. In an intimate 27-seat space in the shabby-chic Islington Arts Club, they’re serving a weekly changing six-course menu for £65. Sessegnon-Shakespeare is on bread and desserts and Louis Korovilas is on savouries; dishes are modern-British, with fun influences that reflect London’s diversity. A menu mainstay is Thee Goat – a dish that changes every week, which could be anything from a goat ravioli to a herbed goat fillet with violet artichoke. There might also be broad bean orzotto, glazed chicken wings and ricotta, and a mascarpone tart with burnt apricot sorbet and yoghurt streusel for dessert. It’s only open Friday and Saturday for dinner, and Sunday for lunch.
Ongoing.
235 Upper Street, N1 1RU
@dante.lndn
Luto at The Pilgrm, Paddington
At Luto, Filipina chef Mary San Pablo takes Filipino flavours and combines them with techniques learned from her extensive background in restaurants – she’s cooked at Quo Vadis and Som Saa, among other places – and influences from her travels. Her creative and thoughtful dishes include tomato and radicchio with a fermented shrimp tonnato (a creamy Italian sauce); lamb ribs with tamarind and rhubarb; and beef short ribs, which she braises and serves with peanut, bagoong (fermented shrimp or fish) and wild garlic sauce.
Until August 14.
25 London Sreet, Tyburnia, W2 1HH
thepilgrm.com
@lutolondon
Ethan Summers, Steven Chen, Eric Wan at Naughty Piglets, Brixton
There’s a new chef every month at Naughty Piglets. Until August 23, Steven Chen is taking us into the height of summer. He will be cooking from his diverse cultural history: the Philippines and Taiwan, with added inspiration from his collaborative cooking in Paris, London and Tokyo. Expect dishes such as whipped smoked tofu with feta and peaches, and grilled prawns doused in a fermented prawn butter. Seeing out the end of summer is Eric Wan, an ex-Dinner by Heston chef who has been developing his contemporary-Vietnamese pop-up Lá Lốt.
Steven Chen until August 23; Eric Wan from August 26 to September 13.
28 Brixton Water Lane, SW2 1PE
naughtypiglets.co.uk
@sdv.chen
@ericw4n
Dante at Claridge’s, Mayfair
Manhattan glamour comes to London for the summer in the form of award-winning New York restaurant and aperitivo bar, Dante. To drink, expect fun takes on Italian classics, such as a chocolate Negroni fountain. Served alongside are New York classics such as sliders, or for more dazzle there’s a seafood tower or a New York strip with chimichurri. Plus, there’s brunch: buttermilk pancakes, banana bread with ricotta and honey, or huevos rancheros.
Until August 29.
Brook Street, London W1K 4HR
claridges.co.uk
@dantenewyorkcity