Team behind Cloth take Simpson's Tavern

Joe Haynes, Ben Butterworth and Tom Hurst, the team behind Farringdon restaurant Cloth, are the new custodians of one of the City’s most iconic institutions, Simpson’s Tavern. 

The Simpson’s Tavern name can’t be used due to "legal complications", so the new restaurant will be called Cloth Cornhill.

The venue, which has stood on Ball Court off Cornhill since 1757, has been vacant since 2022.

Simpson's is known as London’s oldest chop house and was said to be a favourite of William Thackeray and Charles Dickens.

The Cloth team is now beginning work on restoring the Grade II-listed building, with the restaurant not due to launch until mid-2026. While menu details are still to come, the team have said there will be a continuation of Hurst's produce-led, modern British style from the original Cloth, with lots of new dishes, plus chops, steaks and a couple of nods to Simpson’s tradition.

"We're very excited to be taking on the stewardship of this beloved institution," say the Cloth team. "The City has long missed the hubbub of Ball Court and we feel extremely privileged to bring it back to life."

As with the original Cloth, a significant portion of the wine list will come from Haynes and Butterworth's own portfolio.

You may also be interested in…