Tom Aikens announces plans for a new flagship restaurant in London

Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens is set to open a new flagship restaurant in London next year serving 'British tapas' and featuring a botanicals bar, though a site has not yet been confirmed.

The announcement comes almost 18 months after Aikens closed his previous flagship site, Restaurant Tom Aikens in Chelsea, in January last year.

Aikens said: “The restaurant will probably be called The Botanicals and open in spring 2016. It will have a central bar area which splits the space in two, with one side being very relaxed and the other more formal. We will serve ‘British tapas’ in the relaxed area while the more formal side will allow us to be really creative with the cooking.

"Cocktails will be a large part of the offering and will have a botanical theme, mixologists will make syrups and tonics from scratch.”

Aikens also hinted that the restaurant might grow ingredients on-site, and that at least part of the space will not take reservations.

In terms of location he said that there are several sites on the cards in “different corners of London”.

Aikens has an impressive background which includes training under Pierre Koffman and becoming the youngest chef to gain two Michelin stars aged just 26, during his time as head chef at Fitzrovia’s Pied à Terre.

However it has not all been plain sailing. In 2008 Restaurant Tom Aikens was put into administration and then acquired by a management buy-out, leaving several of the restaurant’s suppliers out of pocket.

He currently runs four branches of his casual restaurant and deli concept Tom’s Kitchen in London, Canary Wharf, Chelsea, Somerset House and St Katharine Docks, and also has a site in Istanbul. He also runs restaurant The Pawn in Hong Kong and will open a site in Dubai later this year.

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