The River Café, one of London’s most celebrated restaurants, opened its doors on 6 October after a £2 million redesign. Following a fire in April 2008, co-owners Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray commissioned Stuart Forbes Associates to design the space with a new open kitchen, private dining room and cocktail bar.

“The dynamic relationship between the chefs, the kitchen and the public is a focal point of the design” says Stuart Forbes.

Significant additions also include a kitchen table within the working kitchen zone and a glass enclosed cheese room based on a classic Italian design. The kitchen is open to public view, enabling diners to observe chefs in action. A notable addition is a new wood burning oven, dominating the dining room and kitchen. Manufactured by the Italian firm of Valoriani, this type of oven – made in Reggello, in the hills of Tuscany 25 km southeast of Florence – is key to the preparation of The River Café’s many dishes.

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