Emily Hodgson, owner of the Rose pub in Fulham, has opened her second pub — the Hillgate in Notting Hill.
Hodgson, who worked for her father, Slug and Lettuce and Tup Inns founder Hugh Corbett, before going it alone to open the Rose last year, has given the traditional pub a full makeover since buying it last year with the original mahogany bar remaining its centre-piece.
Hodgson, who will formally open the pub at the end of the month following its soft launch today, hopes to maintain the pub's former title of the area's best 'proper pub' while also turning it into a respected dining pub.
Chef James Howarth, head chef at the Rose, will move to the Hillgate to head up the kitchen at the Hillgate.
His menu will include warm tart of Jerusalem artichoke, wild seabass with brown shrimp linguine and daube of beef, girolles, bacon, mash and greens.
Bar snacks such as pork rillettes, cornichons and toast and goujons of haddock will also be available between 3pm and 7pm.
Speaking to BigHospitality earlier this year Hodgson said she hadn't intended to expand her pub portfolio so soon, but the Hillgate was an opportunity that could not be missed.
Emma Eversham is web editor at Big Hospitality.