Skin, Nottingham
Nottingham has got a brand-new style bar, and boy is it stylish (if rather self-consciously so). Interiors are by local designer Philip Watts, who has installed a glowing white glass bar, lots of cream leather and faux animal skins from ostrich to crocodile. As well as the main bar, there's a soft seating area with alligator skin stools and a more formal dining area separated by a glass balustrade.
Opened: 27 May
Owners: Kelly Graham and David Joyce
Head chef: Ryan Ellis (previously at Bluu and Pierre Victoire)
Drinks: Cocktails
Capacity: 200 inside, 30 outside
Crowd: Stylish young professionals
Average cocktail price: £6
Address: 8-10 Broadway, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1PS
Tel: 0115 941 0243
The Chancery, London
Chef Andy Thompson and front-of-house expert Zak Jones are opening a second City restaurant to follow on from the Clerkenwell Dining Room on St John's Street. The restaurant and bar is expected to be a little smarter and more intimate, but offering the same service and quality.
Opens: 5 July
Head chef: Nelson Reposo (formerly at the Clerkenwell Dining Room and the Admiralty)
Food: Modern European
Capacity: 50 seats:
Crowd: City boys, food lovers
Average spend: £50 per head with drinks
Address: 9 Curfitor Street, London EC4
Tel: 020 7831 4000
T, Shoreditch, London
T is a new bar and deli housed in the Tea Building in trendy Shoreditch (no prizes for guessing this was once a tea warehouse). The inspiration for the bar allegedly comes from hotel lounges, while the deli will serve a range of meals and snacks for about a fiver. Think pastries, bagels meatballs and tea-smoked chicken. Expect the retro, dark-wood-style interiors we've come to expect from this area of the city.
Opens: 7 July
General manager: Colin Bremner (launched E&O)
Head chef: Simon Brown (formerly at Cru, Hoxton)
Food: American/Italian
Capacity: 450
Crowd: Expect the usual trendies and City boys.
Typical spend: £2.50-£14.50
Address: The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
Tel: 020 7739 6498
Crostini, Reading
Despite this new toasted sandwich bar being promoted as the "best thing since sliced bread", we decided to include it. We hope no one will make this claim again. It's the brainchild of Italian-born Franco Beer, who plans to roll out a further four to six outlets by the year-end. It's the first UK retail outlet to be launched by coffee producer Illy.
Opened: 10 June
Owner: Franco Beer
Food: Freshly toasted sandwiches, with lots of sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella
Capacity: 24 people can sit on white leather seats
Average spend: £3.85
Address: 6-12 King's Road, Reading RG1 3AA
Tel: 0118 957 1362
Oceans Apart, Norwood
According to Mark Hill, who's responsible for the redesign of the former Prince of Denmark pub, this bar and eaterie is "an interpretation of what a contemporary Hamlet would choose".
However, gilt-framed abstract art, a suspended fireplace, 10m bar and Zen garden equipped with water features in Norwood make it seem worth a visit.
Opens: 1 July
General manager: Liz Dunne (formerly at Baroque, Ealing and Arch 98, Clapham)
Food: Thai influenced
Capacity: 120
Crowd: Locals
Average spend: £25 with drinks
Address: 152 Portland Road, Norwood, London SE25 4PT
Tel: 020 8663 8881