London & UK Restaurant & Venue Guide

It was in 1987 that Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers opened the River Cafe, and it didn’t taken long for their simple Italian cooking to build up a cult following. Twenty one years later, in April 2008, the restaurant closed following a fire but now it's risen phoenix-like from the ashes, looking better than ever and with similar gusty food to before.

Londoners can’t complain of being deprived of new fine-dining Italians. In recent months we’ve been graced with Apsleys, L'Anima and Murano, and now it’s the turn of Avista. The Grosvenor Square newcomer is presided over by a Zafferano alumnus, who's serving up a menu that brings together traditional and more modern Italian dishes: think steamed prawn and green apple salad (pictured) followed by pumpkin tortelloni with butter and sage.

Is there no end to Gordon Ramsay's talents? No sooner has the dust settled on posh Mayfair Italian Murano than he and leading lady Angela Hartnett have opened up another gaff, this time a refurbished coaching inn on the edge of Regent's Park. There are 10 bedrooms, a deli and a relaxed dining room serving seasonal dishes such as partridge with curly kale.

Frieze Art Fair launches next week and in honour of its status as 'Official Hotel Partner', the Hyatt Regency London The Churchill has organised a special set menu over the weekend of the 18 October, including entry to the Fair, plus Frieze-inspired cocktails from this week until the 19 October in the Bar. A good excuse to visit and check out the hotel's excellent function rooms at the same time.

Kings Place has now opened in King's Cross, with all sorts of flexible spaces up for hire, including London's first new concert hall in London since the Barbican in 1982, holding up to 420, or there's the Battlebridge Room overlooking Regent's Canal, for up to 330. Two art galleries make attractive drinks reception spaces and there's a private dining room for up to 20.

We told you about our 'Snap a Bag' Photo Competition' in our current magazine and we hope you all picked up one of the new Hyperian Global white Square Meal bags at the show. Don't forget to photograph your bag in the most unusual location you can think of and send it in to bags@squaremeal.co.uk by the end of this year: the winner will receive a pair of hospitality tickets to Royal Ascot 2009 and there will be numerous runners-up prizes. Good luck!