Ramsay holds fire on first pub opening

Gordon Ramsay has delayed the opening of his first pub by a week as he puts the finishing touches on the venture.

However, there's no a question of a new Kitchen Nightmare for the TV chef, just a matter of making sure that everything is up to scratch before the revamped Narrow in London's East End opens its doors.

The first night, originally planned for March 19, has been put back to March 26.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings has taken the the Narrow, in Limehouse, on a lease with Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises. The business was previously run by Spirit Group as the Narrow Street Kitchen and Dining Room.

A Grade II-listed building on the edge of the Thames, the Narrow offers great views across the river.and was formerly the dockmaster's house for Limehouse Basin. Further back, there was a brewery on the site owned by Taylor Walker.

A renovation to give it the Ramsay touch has included ground floor bar and dining areas, as well as a first floor private dining room themed as the Captain's Table. The menu features classic British dishes including London Particular - a pea and ham soup - as well as potted Cromer crab with granary toast, cock-a-leekie pie with mash and braised Gloucester pig cheeks with bashed neeps.

CAMRA has helped to put together the beer list, which includes a range of niche bottled beers as well as draught bitters and guest beers. Cocktails are also on offer.

Heading up the kitchen team is John Collin, formerly of Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. The pub manager at the Narrow is Justin Whitehead, headhunted from the Young's-owned County Arms in Wandsworth.

Ramsay's second London pub, the Warrington in Maida Vale, is currently being renovated and is expected to open later this year.