Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams will open cocktail bar Smokey Kudu in January under the arches by Queens Road station, followed by Little Kudu in March, situated next to the original Kudu restaurant on Queens Road and focusing on tapas.
Describe as sleek and intimate, Smokey Kudu will be arranged around a central horseshoe bar set against a large antique mirror. Green velvet booths with red marble topped tables will seat 37 and offer table service. The drinks list will feature 15 cocktails with ‘subtle’ South African influences and a few snacks including biltong.
Little Kudu will be a no-reservations tapas restaurant and wine bar serving accessibly priced Modern European tapas with South African influences. With a similar design to Kudu, it will have 32 covers, an open plan kitchen and high, marble-topped tables.
There will be around 10-12 frequently changing dishes including potato flatbreads with smoked fresh curd; whole braai fish with homemade roti and market greens; lamb belly with panko crumbs and glazed onions; cockles, ember oil, broth, sea greens; and braaibroodjies (cheese toastie). Average spend will be £25-30 per person.
The South African-born Mike Shier has now taken on the head chef role at Kudu, while Eloise Dawes will head up the kitchen at Little Kudu with Williams overseeing both kitchens as executive chef.
Corbin and Patrick opened Kudu in January 2018 and won a Michelin Bib Gourmand soon after.