Tom Aikens reopens flagship restaurant today

Tom Aikens is today reopening his eponymous restaurant in London's Chelsea following a six-month refurbishment.

The former Michelin-starred restaurant, which the chef now owns together with his new business partners London Doors, a division of Istanbul Doors in partnership with Triangle Group, reopens with a more informal approach at its heart.

New interiors, developed by Turkish designer Hakan Ezer, include oak floors, wooden chairs and mismatched oak tables, with food and wine-related quotes written on the walls. Other key design elements in the dining room include concrete, canvas and raw iron. There is also an expanded private dining room seating up to 12 diners in a visible space.

Ezer said: "I wanted to create something original that reflected Tom and his cooking now, that was inviting and welcoming and not overpowering or over-designed a space that celebrates the simplicity of good ingredients in both the kitchen and the dining environment."

Meanwhile Aikens has developed a series of new menus including six-, eight- and 10-course tasting menus.

The chef commented: "We want our customers to relax and enjoy the whole dining experience, from food and drink to the actual dining room's environment - this informality is definitely the mood in the marketplace for 2012."

Aikens last year teamed up with new investor the Istanbul Doors Restaurant Group, which owns 12 brands including 24 restaurants, franchises and a hotel.

The group became an investment and strategic partner to Aikens to both oversee his existing restaurants and further grow the business. The move came after the chef lost control of his business in 2008 when his company went into a pre-pack administration and was bought by businessman Peter Dubens.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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