Salt Yard Group is marking its 20th birthday with a series of chef collaborations that will create distinctive menus across its venues. Since opening its first restaurant in Fitzrovia in 2005 with Ben Tish leading the kitchen, the group has grown into a collection of five venues offering Spanish and Italian-inspired small plates.
A Legacy of Growth
The group joined Urban Pubs & Bars in 2018, welcomed Opera Tavern the same year, and expanded with the opening of Salt Yard Borough in 2022. Now, to celebrate two decades of culinary excellence, Salt Yard Group is presenting a special chef series in partnership with Estrella Damm. Throughout May and June, the series welcomes a lineup of guest chefs to collaborate on exclusive, limited-time menus across its restaurants.
What to Expect
Running across five weeks, each guest chef will bring their unique style to a different Salt Yard Group restaurant with a selection of three dishes. Once a week, there will be a meet-and-greet evening with the chefs. To mark its 20-year celebrations, Salt Yard Group will add £1 to every bill in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, contributing towards the creation of a bedroom in the new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The Chef Lineup
Patrick Powell – 18th May to 24th May | Salt Yard Borough
Patrick Powell, originally from County Mayo, has built an impressive career spanning Dublin, Melbourne, and London, including roles at Chiltern Firehouse and Wild Honey. He is the chef behind Allegra and The Midland Grand Dining Room. His dishes include:
- Iberico Pork Schnitzel, Pickled Chilli, Gordal Olive & Anchovy
- Mussel Escabeche, Grilled Bread & Aioli
- Grilled English Asparagus, Sunflower Seed Romesco & Manchego
Seamus Sam – 25th May to 31st May | Dehesa
Currently leading Evelyn’s Table in Soho, Seamus Sam draws on his Irish-Malaysian heritage and experience at The Clove Club, Restaurant Story, and Muse to create bold, seasonal dishes. His dishes include:
- Iberico Presa, Sweetcorn, Borlotti Beans & Turnip
- Hay Smoked Trout, Grilled Courgettes, Confit Fennel & Datterini Tomato Sauce
- Grilled Baby Aubergine, Red Pepper & Pimento Glaze, Rosemary Brown Butter
Georgina Hayden – 1st June to 7th June | Salt Yard Fitzrovia
Award-winning food writer and author of bestselling cookbooks including Greekish and Nistisima, Georgina Hayden brings her Greek Cypriot heritage and Mediterranean influences to the menu. Her dishes showcase recipes from her brand new book, MEDesque: Everyday Recipes with Mediterranean Roots:
- Steak & Herby Gilda Butter
- Baked Cod, Fennel, Olives & Couscous
- Seadas Saganaki: Cheese & Honey Pastry Triangles
Neil Rankin – 8th June to 14th June | Ember Yard
A pioneer of fire-based cooking in the UK, Neil Rankin has founded multiple acclaimed restaurants and is known for his innovative approach to BBQ and sustainable food. His dishes include:
- Coal Roasted Beet Mole, Mojo Verde, Brick Chicken Thigh & Papas Arrugadas
- Cornish Crab, Fennel & Pork Skin
- Fire Roasted Cabbage, Cucumber Salsa & Symplicity Cumin Mince
Ixta Belfrage – 15th June to 21st June | Opera Tavern, Covent Garden
Known for her vibrant, globally inspired cooking, Ixta Belfrage is the bestselling author of FUSÃO and MEZCLA, and former Ottolenghi Test Kitchen collaborator. Her dishes include:
- Spiced Lamb Meatballs, Cherry & Hazelnut Salsa, Ginger Tahini
- Tuna Tartare, Charred Red Pepper Salsa & Curried Fried Potatoes
- Golden Saffron Frittata, Sweet & Sour Onions, Jalapeño & Apple Salad
Don't miss this unique opportunity to taste exclusive creations from some of the UK's most talented chefs while supporting a great cause.
