‘Dream becoming a reality’ – Sally Abé announces first solo restaurant

Sally Abé has announced she is opening her own restaurant, Teal, saying it is a dream 20 years in the making.

Sharing the news via Instagram, Sally revealed she had officially taken possession of the site, describing the moment as a long-held ambition finally becoming reality.

She said: “I'm so excited to finally be able to share I'm opening a restaurant, on my own!

“Today I got the keys to Teal. My restaurant that I have been dreaming of for 20 years is now becoming a reality.”

The announcement marks a major milestone in Sally’s career, representing her first independent venture, opening alongside co-owner Abe Drewry.

Teal by Sally Abé is named after her favourite game bird.

The menu includes ingredients such as Dorset crab, haunch of deer, and a marmalade ice cream sandwich.

A 20-year ambition

For Sally, Teal is not simply another head chef role — it is a project two decades in the making, with the restaurant set to open on Thursday, March 26.

The language used in her announcement underlines how personal the opening will be, positioning Teal as the culmination of long-term experience, growth and ambition within the industry.

The move comes shortly after her departure from The Bull in Charlbury, where she had been leading the kitchen. Her exit signalled that a new chapter was imminent, and Teal now confirms that next step will be under her sole ownership.

Opening an independent restaurant in the current hospitality climate is a bold undertaking. Operators continue to navigate rising costs, staffing pressures and shifting consumer expectations. However, chef-led restaurants with strong personal narratives continue to attract both industry attention and diner loyalty.

Further discussing the opening, she said: "Opening Teal by Sally Abé feels incredibly personal. It’s the first restaurant I’ve built entirely on my own, on my own two feet, and I’m hugely proud of that.

"After years of working in other peoples’ businesses and kitchens, this is me putting my name, my values and my voice into a space that’s truly mine.

"Teal by Sally Abé is about celebrating the best of British food, its history, its flavours, and its stories, while championing women, supporting good causes, and building a restaurant that feels rooted in its community. I can’t wait to open the doors in Hackney and show people exactly what I’ve been working towards."

From Michelin-starred kitchens to ownership

Sally Abé first rose to prominence during her time at The Harwood Arms in Fulham, London’s Michelin-starred pub, where she progressed to head chef and later executive chef. Her cooking style has consistently focused on confident British flavours, whole-animal butchery and produce-led technique.

She later led The Pem at Conrad London St James before moving to The Bull, building a profile as one of the UK’s most visible female chefs. Alongside her kitchen work, Sally has become an important voice within hospitality, advocating for greater representation and progression for women in professional kitchens.

She has also played a starring role in recent years on BBC’s Great British Menu.

Teal represents a natural evolution — full creative autonomy alongside the commercial responsibility that comes with ownership.

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What happens next?

While further details such as location, opening date and menu direction are yet to be confirmed, the act of taking the keys signals that development is well underway.

For Sally, Teal is more than a restaurant launch. It is, in her own words, a dream 20 years in the making.

Further updates are expected in the coming months as the project moves towards opening.