Rising once again from the ashes, West London institution Julie’s will reopen in early 2024 as a modern French brasserie.
The restaurant first opened its doors in 1969 and quickly gained a reputation as an A-list hotspot regularly hosting household names like Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, and even Diana Princess of Wales. After a particularly lively evening, Tina Turner supposedly graced one corner table with scratches from her dancing shoes. After closing for refurbishment in 2015 it reopened in 2019 with a British menu before shutting its doors for a second time in January 2023. This was not the end of the road for Julie’s, which has now reopened under new owner and former regular, Tara Macbain.
Trained at Cordon-Bleu, Macbain and her West London team have restored the effortless elegance of its heyday, to draw in a new generation of Julie-goers. Guests can expect a menu that highlights French classic dishes and includes oysters and extravagant seafood towers. As a nod to Julie's theatrical past, there is also a Martini trolley offering guests tableside refreshment.
The restaurant is named after its founder, the acclaimed interior designer Julie Hodges. Hodges returned over the years to update the interiors for then-owners Timothy and Cathy Herring. This time, the renovation is headed by Rosanna Bossom. Picture bespoke chandeliers, yellow and gold accents, and an intriguing oyster shell bar. The 160-cover restaurant also includes an alfresco terrace, a ground-floor dining room and bar, and a basement dining area.
In the hands of those who hold it in high esteem, Julie's resurrection is a welcome one.