Tom Brown's Pearly Queen restaurant understood to be permanently closed

Pearly Queen, the oyster bar and seafood restaurant from chef Tom Brown, is believed to be permanently closed.

Opened in Shoreditch in November 2023, the restaurant brought a bold, playful take on shellfish to London’s East End.

Designed across two floors on Commercial Street, the restaurant offered an oyster counter and casual bar upstairs, with moody banquettes and a cocktail-led dining room downstairs.

The menu centred on oysters - served both raw and “dressed” with flavours like pâté and champagne jelly - alongside creative seafood plates.

Highlights included the 100-layer cuttlefish lasagne, cockle bhajis, prawn scotch egg, and grilled lobster with XO butter. 

Restaurant critic Grace Dent noted the “buffalo oysters” and brill poached in squid stock as standouts, while Harden’s highlighted the “exceptional” quality of seafood and the ambition Tom brought to Shoreditch.

According to Time Out, Pearly Queen appears to have closed, with its website offline, phone disconnected and OpenTable listing marked as permanently closed. No official announcement has been made.

new beginnings? 

Earlier this year, it was also announced that Tom would return to The Capital Hotel with a new restaurant.

It marks somewhat of a homecoming for Tom, who previously rose to prominence as head chef at the hotel’s restaurant Outlaw’s.

Tom said: “Returning to The Capital Hotel feels like coming full circle. This is where I developed my style and found the confidence to go onto open Cornerstone. It’s a privilege to have my name over the door of a restaurant where legends of my industry have worked, and I in turn hope to make my mark”.

Solomon Khaddour, general manager at The Capital, added: "We are delighted to welcome Tom back to The Capital Hotel, bringing his extraordinary talent and culinary artistry back to Knightsbridge.

“His innovative approach to seafood will redefine the dining experience at our hotel, and this partnership is a celebration of both Tom’s incredible talent and the strengthened vision of The Capital Hotel.”

Read more: Tom Brown returns to The Capital Hotel with new restaurant

The Staff Canteen has approached Pearly Queen for comment.