Long-awaited Soho pub to open this autumn

Famed London publican Oisín Rogers and Flat Iron founder Charlie Carroll have announced that their new pub project is set to open in Soho this October.

The Devonshire, as the pub will be named, is on 17 Denman Street in an 18th century building. In a previous incarnation, the structure was home to a Jamie’s Italian.

Rogers, who previously had a six year stint at The Guinea Grill and worked at Wandsworth’s The Ship before that, told db that he and Carroll were drawn to the site by its “location and size”.

“I like that it’s a forgotten pub that we can bring back to life,” he explained.

Describing his working relationship with Carroll, Rogers said: “I’ve known Charlie for more than 10 years and I’m a huge fan of his talent for restaurants and his unflappable attention to detail. In fact we have been talking about doing a brilliant large pub and restaurant in the West End for most of that time.”

Soho has no shortage of great boozers, as the throng of drinkers who gather in the area for ‘thirsty Thursday’ can attest to.

When asked what will set The Devonshire apart from its neighbours, Rogers said: “Some of our favourite pubs are in Soho, and some of the best pubs in the world are here. Apart from a couple though, there are not many who specialise in really delicious food. That’s what we want to be known for.”

As for what the food and drink offering will be, that is being largely kept under wraps for the moment (the Evening Standard reports Guinness, sausage rolls, langoustine and Scottish beef butchered on site), but Rogers promised that it will be “generous and delicious”.

Upon his departure from The Guinea Grill last summer, db spoke with Rogers about his tenure at the legendary Mayfair establishment.