For anyone hoping that the folk behind The River Cafe might still be opening a second more central restaurant, we have bad news. Co-founder Ruth Rogers confirmed this weekend that the deal was dead in the water.
Speaking at the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood on Sunday, Ruth was asked by fellow chef Rowley Leigh if she was planning on opening a second River Cafe and the answer was a direct, "No - The River Cafe is very site-driven," she said, "And so about two years ago we found a very beautiful site [on Mayfair's Hay Hill] that we were very excited about so we really worked to try and do this restaurant. Because we loved the area and where it was and we were also a little bit worried about the site we were in. But that didn't happen - the residents got a bit annoyed and so that was dropped."
But Rogers admitted that just because the Mayfair deal had fallen through didn't mean they would never open a second one. "We don't have a plan to open another one, but we're always looking out. if something was very beautiful and was a beautiful opportunity then perhaps..."
Asked whether she'd ever contemplated opening a River Cafe Light - fellow panellist and River Cafe Head Chef Sian Wyn Owen responded, saying; "We did think about it, thinking of ways to keep it exciting for people who've worked in the restaurant for a long time, but then we always come back to the fact that this is such a great restaurant, just to have one place which we can put all our attention into keeping it really good.
"We all feel quite proud of the fact that you just have to go to the River Cafe - you have to make that trip to Hammersmith to eat there."
So that's a no then.
More about The River Cafe
Where is it? Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA
How to book Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Twitter @RiverCafeLondon
