It's been a long, long year for the restaurant industry, and while hospitality workers get ready to reopen and go back to work, we're all eager to go out to eat, drink and celebrate the lifting of restrictions come April 12th.
Here is a list of the restaurants across the UK and in London to keep an eye out for this spring and summer:
Jöro's Luke French and Stacey Sherwood are opening a fine dining concept in Sheffield and a Japan-inspired restaurant in Liverpool
Operated by chef Luke French and his wife and business partner, Stacey Sherwood-French, the restaurant and bar, Konjö, will be located on the rooftop of the Cambridge Street Collective food hall, which will also feature a cooking school and a broadcast studio.
The Cambridge Street Collective is run by The Milestone Group, which is also behind Cutlery Works - The North's largest food hall - as well as The Milestone pub, a suburban gastropub located around the corner from Jöro.
Though it is planned for this year, an exact date has yet to be set for the launch.
Alongside this, the culinary couple are opening a Tokyo izakaya-inspired restaurant in Liverpool, Nama.
The drinking and dining concept will be located in the city's MetQuarter, and will use sashimi grade fish and responsibly-sourced ingredients from the UK, the EU, and Japan to offer Sheffield diners a selection of sashimi and nigiri.
Thomas Straker, formerly of Elystan Street and The Dorchester to open first solo restaurant in London, Acre
The chef, whose former positions saw him work in the kitchens of The Dorchester, Dinner, Casa Cruz and Elystan Street, had been planning his own restaurant prior to the pandemic, but naturally had to put it on hold for a year. The launch is back on track, but the only information as to when it might open is that it is 'Coming Soon'.
Thomas' food at Acre will reflect his Herefordshire upbringing, his love for hunting and foraging in the Black Mountains and his respect for ethical, sustainable, quality farming.
In the meantime, the chef is offering a preview of what to expect at his Carousel pop-up, Right Then, on Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm – 4pm, with tickets on sale every Wednesday at 10.
Danny Parker will open Fern Restaurant at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in May
The former head chef at House of Tides, Masterchef: The Professionals 2014 finalist and Great British Menu 2017 and 2018 contestant promises a contemporary and parred-down menu - dishes like hand dived scallops with blood orange beurre blanc; pan-fried monkfish, creamed Yukon Gold potatoes, sauce vierge & Shetland mussels; and chocolate terrine with poached cherries.
El Pastor Soho to launch in June 2021
The restaurant, run by Harts Group, also behind Barrafina and Quo Vadis, will be located on the former site of Mark Hix's restaurant, featuring both familiar dishes and additions
