Island: Brad Carter and Tom Brown to open surf and turf restaurant in King's Cross
For Carter, this foray into London is a long time coming. After closing Carters of Moseley in Birmingham in 2023, where he held a Michelin star for eight years, he was due to launch Undercroft under a church in Mayfair, but the venture fell through.
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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Award-winning bar & restaurant in UK seaside town to close after 10 years as owner teases ‘it's just the beginning'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUCH-LOVED bar and restaurant is set to close its doors after almost a decade in the heart of the seaside town. Ojo Rojo, located in the Bournemouth Triangle, has announced it will be leaving the area after ten years of serving up tacos, cocktails, and a lively Mexican atmosphere. 4 Ojo Rojo, earned a spot in the UK's Top 50 Cocktail Bars for three years running Credit: Facebook / Ojo Rojo 4 Locals have responded with an outpouring of emotion, sharing memories and messages of support on social media Credit: Facebook / Ojo Rojo 4 From its diverse cocktail menu featuring house-made syrups and infusions, to its proud selection of agave spirits Credit: Facebook / Ojo Rojo Founded in Bournemouth, Dorset, by Trevor Hill and JJ Adams, Ojo Rojo made a name for itself with its bold flavours, mezcal-based drinks, and vibrant setting. It even earned a spot in the UK's Top 50 Cocktail Bars for three years running. The news was first reported by the Bournemouth Echo, who spoke with co-founders Trevor Hill and JJ Adams, confirming the closure is a 'strategic move' shaped by 'national industry pressure and local challenges.' But they've made it clear – this isn't the end. 'After nearly ten years of tacos, mezcal, music and magic, it's time for a new chapter,' they said. 'Ojo Rojo is moving on. Not because we've lost what makes us special but because we're ready to take everything that we've learnt and shape it into something stronger.' Locals have responded with an outpouring of emotion, sharing memories and messages of support on social media. Rachel Grant posted: 'Our first date venue, where will we go for our anniversary now.' Kelly Marie Young added: 'Such a shame! We love this restaurant.' Restaurant chain owned by Michelin-starred chef is on brink of collapse 16 years after it first opened Others praised the team's effort. There's also been frustration about the wider town centre. Ojo Rojo is well known for its dedication to authentic Mexican culture. From its diverse cocktail menu featuring house-made syrups and infusions, to its proud selection of agave spirits, the bar has drawn fans from across the South Coast. 'Our ambition is to revolutionise the well-known taco, while educating people about the deep-rooted Mexican culture,' reads a statement on their website. 'We are passionate that everyone who comes into contact with us feels refreshed.' The venue, which includes a downstairs bar, upstairs dining, and an outdoor hacienda, will continue to operate for a short while longer. Its sister site, Hacienda Harden, is also set to close. The owners remain hopeful and committed to the future. 'You reminded us what this place means to people and why this next chapter matters so much, from me, Jayjay and the whole office thank you so much for all the love,' they said. 'We're here for a little bit longer. Remember we are not done yet… This is just the beginning. "We want to build what comes next with you. Because whatever that next version looks like, it's going to have the same soul – yours.' Ojo Rojo's closure adds to a growing list of businesses shutting their doors in Bournemouth and across the UK. In Bournemouth, the Winton branch of WHSmith closed earlier this year, and the town has seen other high street names disappear amid rising costs and shifting shopping habits. Nationally, the retail and hospitality sectors are facing significant challenges. Department store Beales, which first opened in Bournemouth in 1881, closed its last remaining store in Poole in May 2025, citing increased operational costs and tax burdens. Other notable closures include Karen's Diner in Islington, which shut its final UK branch in June 2025 after its parent company went into liquidation with £400,000 in debt. Fashion retailer River Island is reportedly developing a radical rescue plan amid financial struggles, with store closures and job losses being potential outcomes. The Original Factory Shop is undergoing significant restructuring, with several stores across regions such as Worcestershire, Durham, and Cumbria slated to shut down this month. These closures highlight the broader economic pressures facing UK businesses, including rising operational costs, changing consumer behaviours, and increased competition from online retailers. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
Time Out
5 days ago
- Time Out
The two luxurious London hotels named among the best in the world
On the look out for somewhere to spend a night in true, unadulterated luxury? Look no further. Every year, the prestigious hospitality guide, La Liste, unveils what it believes to be the 1000 most exceptional hotels in the world. Now, it's pick of the greatest stays for 2025 is out. Like the guide's selection of the finest restaurants in the world, this ranking spans Europe, Asia and the Americas and has been created through a 'sophisticated algorithm' that analyses thousands of reviews, professional judgements and guest feedback from more than 400 international sources. The result, it says, is an 'objective evaluation that transcends cultural preferences and regional biases'. Once the numbers had been crunched, ten hotels emerged as the very best in the world, with near-perfect scores of 99.5 out of 100. And two of them happen to be London's most well-known five-star establishments: The Connaught in Mayfair and The Savoy on the Strand. The Connaught La Liste judges said: 'The Connaught balances storied tradition with bold innovation. Its legendarily attentive service, helmed by the world's finest butlers, transforms each stay into a narrative of timeless refinement.' The butlers at the Connaught really do wait on guests hand and foot. They'll unpack and pack all your luggage if you so wish, can bring you late-night snacks at the drop of a hat and are even trained in shoe care by expert cobblers, if your shoes happen to need shining. Beyond the service, this lavish hotel has three restaurants, one of which is Michelin-starred, and a legendary bar that feels like you've stepped straight into a Bond movie. There's also an opulent spa featuring a black granite swimming pool, a steam room infused with essential oils and a fitness area. Obviously, such luxury doesn't come cheap. If you fancy a stay there you'll need to fork out anything from £800 to £3000 a night. The Savoy La Liste called the Savoy 'an enduring icon of British cultural identity'. To give you an idea of just how iconic this place is, it's hosted huge names like Martin Luther King Jr, the Rolling Stones and Marilyn Monroe and it's where young Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip made their debut, where Monet painted the Thames and where Vivien Leigh met Laurence Olivier. It's also the place popularised the martini in Britain. Judges added that the hotel, which dates back to 1889, 'transcends mere hospitality to embody an entire era of sophistication. Its rooms-witnessing over a century of history-continue to set the standard for luxurious restraint while its legendary American Bar remains the spiritual home of cocktail artistry.' A stay here costs between £750 and £2200 a night. The only other city to have to hotels in La Liste's top ten was Paris. See the full list of the world's top ten hotels, according to La Liste, here.
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
Squatters plague iconic Mayfair club that was popular among A-list celebrities
A former private club in the heart of Mayfair which became a venue for A-list celebrities has become the latest landmark building in the capital to be targeted by squatters, Metro can reveal. Morton's Club at 28 Berkeley Square was originally built as the private home of the chancellor of the exchequer in the 1820's. It was then transformed into one of the most prestigious clubs in the capital with an illustrious membership. However it plunged into administration in 2020 amid the Covid crisis and the building has remained vacant. The club, which once boasted a Michelin starred restaurant The Square, was occupied by squatters but they were turfed out and security beefed up. Despite these measures the squatters are still using the basement area as a refuge with their belongings piled up in a makeshift shelter. Businesses in the exclusive square told the Metro that the Grade II listed building was being becoming a 'magnet for anti-social behaviour'. A security guard at a neighbouring business told Metro: 'It's been a nightmare. There were squatters actually in the building but now they were forced to leave. But what they are doing now is using the basement area as their refuge. There are piles of stuff down there it's becoming like a slum. It's a magnet for anti-social behaviour. 'There are people smoking weed and the place is an eyesore. The police came recently but said there was nothing they could do. When the club was there it was very high end but now it's just bringing down the square.' The area is bristling with hedge fund businesses and other financial operations from across the globe. The building next door is world renowned auction House Phillips which is currently holding sales of work by Damien Hirst. Morton's was a favourite with Hollywood A-listers including Lindsay Lohan who attended a number of VIP events hosted there. Pippa Middleton was also a regular at the club. A hedge fund worker at a business just off Berkeley Square told Metro: 'It's not good for the area to have a building in such a state. I start work early and have seen people emerging from the basement area. It's a something that needs sorting. I have peeked down and seen the pile of rubbish and it's sad to see a grand old building like that with its history reduced to looking a bit squalid.' A caretaker at a nearby building said: 'It's not in keeping with the area. We have some of the richest people in the world here they do not expect to be confronted by mess. It's bad for tourists as well. The Metro approached a man who emerged from the basement early in the morning having apparently slept there the night. He said: 'I have no where else. What can I do?' The building has been bought out of administration and is being marketed by CF Commercial for a client who now has the lease and is looking for a business to move in. It is understood police have been called to the premises in the last month but informed the leaseholder there was nothing they could do as the squatters are not inside the building. CF Commercial has been approached for comment. The grand four storey building was constructed by Thomas Cubitt a master builder renowned for his work in London in the early 1800s. It has become the latest in a series of valuable central London properties used as hospitals venues to be targeted by squatters. A group barricaded themselves on Gordon Ramsay's York and Albany pub near Regent's Park in 2024 before being forced to leave having been sever a court order. In the same year squatters occupied Marco Pierre White's former steak and pizza restaurant until they were raided by police. Meanwhile another group holed up inside Princess Diana's former favourite restaurant San Lorenzo until they too were ordered out by the courts. The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment. More Trending A statement from RSM UK, who stared as administrators for Morton's said in a statement: 'We were appointed Administrators to the company that owned the lease of Morton's in January 2020 and sold the lease to new buyers in August 2021. We have had no involvement with the property since then and ceased to act as administrators shortly after the sale.' A statement from Westminster Council said: 'We're not aware of any complaints about this specific site but we take the concerns of local businesses and residents very seriously. 'Our city inspectors visited the site last night. They found no evidence of people sleeping rough in the basement but there are a number of items belonging to rough sleepers being stored there. 'This is ultimately a matter for the landlord to secure the property and the council will notify them urgently about the issue.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Fare dodger barges his way through barriers – and straight into arms of police MORE: 'Eurostar of Scotland' launches new London service spanning 353 miles and 11 stops MORE: First picture of 'loving' teenager who died after motorbike plunged into canal
