Jason Atherton to open 16-seater resto

Indefatigable British chef Jason Atherton is to open a 16-seater restaurant next door to his Michelin-starred flagship, Pollen Street Social in Mayfair.

As reported by Eater, the new site is operating under the working title ‘H.O.M.E.’

The restaurant, which will only serve a set menu, will be a “purely creative outlet” for Atherton, who will create dishes “inspired by his travels around the world.”

Sheffield-born Atherton has described the project as his version of The Araki, the three Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Mayfair with just nine seats.

It also sounds similar to James Knappet’s Kitchen Table behind Bubbledogs, which won its second star this year, and Simon Rogan’s eight-seater test kitchen Aulis in Soho.

But despite comparing the project to The Araki, Atherton told SquareMeal that he has no Michelin ambitions for the venture, however he did reveal that Pollen Street Social is looking to move up a gear to becoming a two star site.

It hasn’t been an easy year for Atherton, who saw two of the restaurants in his empire – the Japanese Sosharu in Farringdon and modern British venue Temple and Sons in the City close due to tough trading conditions.

“When we launched Sosharu in March 2016, we hit the ground running with critical success, however, with time we have found the location of Farringdon to be an incredibly tricky spot,” Atherton said in August.

H.O.M.E. will be Atherton’s eighth restaurant in London and sixteenth worldwide. In addition to Pollen Street Social, Atherton has a Michelin star at City Social.

In September Atherton was named as Champagne house Moët & Chandon’s brand ambassador for the next two years.

As part of his role, Atherton will work with cellar master Benoît Gouez, on a series of collaborations, including a Grand Vintage Rosé pairing menu, set to debut next year.