Grade II listed restaurant Simpson’s in the Strand to reopen

The iconic Simpson’s in the Strand closed in March 2020 when the pandemic hit and the venue’s future has been in doubt since.

However, five star hotel The Savoy have announced the acclaimed venue will reopen in 2024 with Jeremy King, co-founder of hospitality empire Corbin & King and Jeremy King Restaurants, breathing new life into the art deco dining room.

Jeremy King said: “It is now well over forty years since I fell in love with Simpson’s in the Strand and over twenty years since I first became excited at the prospect of being able to work with The Savoy and take over its helm.

“Simpson’s is the last of the ‘Grande Dame’ restaurants that still retains its original décor and features, and the prospect of restoring it to its former glory is the apotheosis of my career. The history of this magnificent institution will be cherished as we bring it fully into the 21st Century.”

Since it first opened its doors in 1828, Simpson’s in the Strand has been a coffee shop, chess club and a Michelin star restaurant.

It drew in a distinguished crowd over the years which included Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier, Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn, the restaurant was famous for its old-world British charm and serving a roast on ornate trolleys which were carved tableside.

Since starting his empire in 1981, King has launched many of London’s top restaurants including the Wolseley, the Delaunay on the Strand and Brasserie Zédel.

A founding member of Corbin & King, King was ousted from the fine-dining group in 2022 before setting up Jeremy King Restaurants independently.

Corbin & King has been rebranded as The Wolseley Hospitality Group and is due to open The Wolseley City later this month.