Bringing a brand new addition to Islington’s ever-evolving food scene, Chef James Cochran will open his much-anticipated new restaurant 1251 on Tuesday 28th August.
Situated right in the heart of the bustling Upper Street, moments away from both Angel and Highbury & Islington, 1251 will seat 48 covers across two floors with an additional 8 seats on an outdoor terrace. The destination venue will welcome guests from 11am through 11pm, serving lunch and dinner with a snacks menu throughout the day.
Both floors will have a minimal, studio-like interiors, dotted with quirky features from the original Victorian building. The double-height windows on the first floor allow natural daylight to flood in and will be a space for changing contemporary artwork from artists from the local community and friends of the 1251 team. Echoing the feel of the space, 1251 will have a curated playlist of classic funk, soul, hip hop and rock & roll tunes to take diners from day to night.
The ambitious modern British menu will see James showcasing his Michelin-starred training in a relaxed, convivial setting where Kentish produce takes centre stage. Raised in Whitstable to a West Indian mother and Scottish father, James will take inspiration from the yin and yang nature of his upbringing to showcase an experimental menu that reflects his own multi-faceted heritage.
With a clear intention to focus on the quality of ingredients, much of the produce at 1251 will be sourced directly through James’ personal relationships with small-scale independent suppliers, with lamb originating from Whitstable, pork from Faversham and seafood from the south west coast.
The a la carte menu will focus primarily on plates served in a sharing style for lunch and dinner, with the offering including the option of a five- or eight-course tasting menu (both available as vegetarian). For larger groups, James will be serving his signature Goat Sharing Board with a selection of cuts of goat served alongside accompaniments including Black Eyed Pea Dahl, Roti, Scotch Bonnet Jam, Pineapple and more.
For those stopping by between lunch and dinner, 1251 will offer an unmissable snacks menu, available from morning through to late night, with each option reflecting James’ passion for well-sourced ingredients and bold attitude to flavour combinations.
The carefully chosen wine selection will focus on organic bottles sourced from all over the world. The cocktail offering will feature house classics such as the 1251 Negroni, which James has uniquely formulated himself with house-made vermouth infused with sweet cicely foraged from Kent, as well as the 1251 Bloody Mary Martini and more inventive creations that will take inspiration from standout kitchen ingredients.
1251 by James Cochran will open its doors on Tuesday 28th August, serving lunch and dinner every day. Reservations can be made online.
Louise Walker is AGLAIA’s Editor in charge of all content creation and management. She splits her time between London and Miami, and can always be found at a swanky hotel bar sipping on a Negroni. Contact her for any questions or if you would like to become an AGLAIA Contributor: hello@aglaiamagazine.com
Find me on: Twitter
