Henry Harris to takeover Three Cranes, London

Racine regulars rejoice. Henry Harris, the much-loved chef and restaurateur celebrated for his services to Francophilia, has partnered with James McCulloch, owner of The Harcourt in Marylebone, to acquire three endangered London pubs and fill them with good food and wine.

First up, Henry Harris will oversee the Frenchified grill room at the Three Cranes on aptly named Garlick Hill, EC4 close to Mansion House. Here he will be championing terrines, salads, steak and Barnsley lamb chop frites – the kind of dishes that Harris, a self-proclaimed 'classicist', is renowned for. The design will enhance the heritage of the site that was frequently mentioned in Samuel Pepys writing. There’ll be lots of attention given to the wine list, which will be heavily themed around bottles from Bordeaux.

Come January, the legendary Clerkenwell Coach & Horses will re-open as The Coach with a Harris French accent to the robust menu : expect choucroute, confit duck, posh sausage rolls and chocolate mousse in brutal defiance of New Year diets.

The Hero of Maida, formerly The Truscott Arms, will open in March. Henry Harris will stamp a francophile edge on the renowned Sunday lunch sending out seven-hour-roasted shoulder of lamb with rosemary and potatoes boulangère.

Harris, started off at Leith’s, then worked for Simon Hopkinson at Bibendum before opening Racine in Knightsbridge.

Website and price details to follow shortly.