The former Barrafina site in Soho which is set to become The Test Kitchen in May.

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Former Raymond Blanc protege to open year-long pop-up in Soho

Adam Simmonds, the twice Michelin starred chef behind the well-regarded Danesfield House restaurant in Marlow, is to open a new year-long pop-up venue in Soho as he plots a permanent site in the area.

The Test Kitchen will open in May at a 702 sq ft unit on Frith Street in London’s West End after restaurant agency, Restaurant Property, sealed a 12 month lease on the former site of tapas bar Barrafina.

The unit has remained dormant since the Michelin-starred tapas venue relocated to Dean Street last Autumn.

Running until summer 2018, the new eatery will serve as a precursor to a permanent venue, with Simmonds gleaning feedback from diners on his experimental menu which will help shape the line-up at a proposed permanent site set to open in early 2018.

According to the chef, the new site will draw on Simmond’s esteemed career so far, which have included stints at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Marco Pierre White’s Les Saveurs and L’Escargot.

David Rawlinson, who is Founder and Agency Director at Restaurant Property, acted for Simmonds in the deal and commented: “This will be a fantastic short-term opportunity for Adam to show off his amazing culinary skills whilst we search for a long-term home for him in Central London. Adam is also going to be a very active supporter of our chosen charity, Action Against Hunger.”

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