Cottons, London's longest-running Caribbean restaurant group, is excited to announce the opening of its new Shoredich site on Hoxton Square.
The restaurant, currently situated on Curtain Road, will relocate to its new location this summer, opening in early September.
One of the largest Cotton outposts to date, the upstairs restaurant at the new site will feature 66 covers, while a brand-new addition to Cottons, the downstairs bar, will seat 100.
Celebrating the flavours and the food of the Caribbean while exploring the islands' complex culinary roots, Cottons have become a mainstay on the London food scene for 37 years thanks to its fragrant marinades, spice rubs, and pure sunshine food. Caribbean cuisine features a fusion of flavours, and Cottons Hoxton Square will offer a selection of authentic dishes, alongside house-made cocktails.
The selection of small plates include Salt fish fritters with Bajan pepper compote and mango chutney; Sweet potato patties with beetroot, tomato, and coriander salsa; and Jerk hot wings with chilli pineapple salsa. Larger plates will come in the form of Creole gilled mahi mahi served alongside avocado, tomato and red onion slaw, garlic pan fried potatoes, Bajan pepper compote, and coconut sauce; Cottons curry mutton served with rice and peas, and coleslaw; and Chana daal platter, a wholesome platter of chickpea curry, grilled veg, sweet potato patties, and steamed rice.
For those ‘on-the-go’, the Hoxton Square restaurant will operate an all-day takeaway section. Cottons Cool Runnings will serve classic dishes from the menu such as fried plantain, jerk chicken, and slow braised oxtail stew. The expansive downstairs area will pay homage to the Caribbean's most popular drink: rum.
The 300 strong rum list (a Guinness World Record) will feature white, golden, dark, navy, spiced and fruit rums from the Caribbean and distilleries closer to home. The cocktail list will feature classic libations alongside house-made favourites, like the Kingston Queen (Duppy Share spiced rum, passion fruit juice, lime juice, vanilla, coconut rum topped with tonic water), Carnival Cooler (Wray & Nephew with falernum, watermelon, strawberry and coconut, guava juice, cracked Black pepper and soda), and Caribbean Sour (Duppy Share, Angostura bitters, lime juice, sugar, and miraculous foamed bitters).
For those coming in groups should order the sharing cocktails, suitable for up to four people (or less, if you're thirsty). Alongside weekly live music events and gigs, the downstairs area will be available to book for private hire – from intimate celebrations to big birthday bashes.
Cottons relocation to Hoxton Square is a timely one. With Jamaica celebrating 60 years of independence this year, it feels only right for one of the capital's most beloved Caribbean food brands to be making such an exciting move.
The restaurant group, which has branches in Camden, Notting Hill, and Vauxhall, has been beloved by Londoners for nearly four decades, with its ascent showing no signs of stopping.
