Simpson's in the Strand, the historic London dining room founded in 1828, is set to reopen next month just in time for its bicentenary. The revival is led by veteran restaurateur Jeremy King, who has described the project as 'the apotheosis of my career'. The restaurant, known for its wheeled silver trolleys and traditional British fare, closed during the early days of the Covid pandemic.
King, who previously co-founded the Corbin & King group behind iconic venues like The Ivy and The Wolseley, has been pursuing the rights to Simpson's for over 20 years. He took over the space from the adjacent Savoy hotel, aiming to restore its Edwardian opulence while injecting a sense of fun. 'I have always enjoyed the romance of historical restaurants,' King said.
The restaurant originally opened as a coffee and chess club, introducing trolleys to serve roast beef without disturbing players. It later rejected the French word 'menu' in favour of 'bill of fare'. Notable patrons included Charles Dickens, PG Wodehouse, and Winston Churchill. Women were barred from the main dining room until 1984.
Critics have welcomed the revival, noting that Simpson's had become outdated. Restaurant writer Ben McCormack said it was 'way past its sell-by date' with poor food, while critic Jimi Famureva called King the 'dream custodian' for a venue that had become 'a bit of a museum exhibit'. King's other recent openings include The Park and Arlington in London.
