Hot new London bar openings: March

Vinoteca King’s Cross

Vinoteca has expanded its empire with a fifth site in King’s Cross. Housed on the ground floor of One Pancras Square, the space includes a wine bar, 90-cover restaurant and wine shop. Among the dishes on offer are English rose veal tonnato and grilled Cornish mackerel with pickled vegetables, while two wines imported exclusively by the group are available on tap. Vinoteca opened in Farringdon in 2005, branching out into Marylebone in 2010, Soho in May 2010, and lefty Chiswick last year. Each site offers nearly 300 wines by the bottle and 25 by the glass.

Fortnum & Mason Champagne Bar, Heathrow Terminal 5

Heathrow Terminal 5 has just got that little bit chicer with the opening of the Fortnum & Mason Champagne Bar where produce from the Piccadilly flagship will be on sale, from charcuterie boards, caviar, smoked salmon, eggs drumkilbo and Welsh rarebit to flutes of fizz. Decked out in the store’s signature turquoise shade, the freestanding nickel-plated steel bar will serve a range of Champagnes, fine wines and cocktails including the Rose of Mary alongside Fortnum’s renowned rare tea collection.

The Richmond

The Richmond Arms pub in London Fields has reopened as simply The Richmond with the aim of turning the east London venue into a neighbourhood restaurant. Ditching the previous Egyptian theme, behind the menu is Brett Redman (of Elliot’s Café fame), who has gone big on comfort food and bar snacks alongside oysters, clams, tartares and carpaccios served from a raw bar with the likes of scallop ceviche with Sicilian citrus and basil headlining. On pour at the bar will be a selection of “natural” wines and Negronis on tap.

Noir

Mayfair has a swish new bar in the form of Noir on Duke Street. Set over two floors, on the ground floor is a cocktail bar that opens out onto a garden, while upstairs is late lounge the Frolic Room, home to live music and entertainment. Cocktails include the Blue Dahlia, blending gin, maraschino, lemon, violet and egg white; and the Conflicted Hero, blending Tequila, Mescal, vermouth and smoke, which can be enjoyed with oxtail nuggets, calamari tempura and truffled mac ‘n’ cheese. The bar is the first in the UK to trial the Airdiem, where you can smoke tobacco-free shisha pipes in various fruit flavours.

Chez Chow

And finally… news comes to us that fluff ball Teddy the Chow Chow has opened a new cocktail bar, Chez Chow on North Audley Street. The well travelled mutt has taken inspiration from his adventures around China, and has launched the bar with the help of his owner, chef Jeremy Coste. Behind a red velvet curtain is a mural of Teddy looking dapper in a bow tie.

Decked out with oriental furniture and knick knacks, the cosy bar serves Chinese snacks such as popcorn shrimp and sticky pork ribs with a chilli, lime and sweet soy sauce. Cocktails meanwhile, are classic in character and include barrel aged Old Fashioneds and a Popcorn Sazerac.