Bringing a brand new addition to Islington’s ever-evolving food scene, Chef James Cochran has now opened the doors to his much-anticipated new restaurant 1251.
Situated right in the heart of the bustling Upper Street, moments away from both Angel and Highbury & Islington, 1251 seats forty-eight covers across two floors with an additional eight seats on an outdoor terrace. The destination venue welcomes guests from 11am through 11pm, serving lunch and dinner with a snacks menu throughout the day.
Both floors have a minimal, studio-like interiors, dotted with quirky features from the original Victorian building. The double-height windows on the first floor allow natural daylight to flood in and will be a space for changing contemporary artwork from artists from the local community and friends of the 1251 team. Echoing the feel of the space, 1251 has a curated playlist of classic funk, soul, hip hop and rock & roll tunes to take diners from day to night.
The ambitious modern British menu sees James showcasing his Michelin-starred training in a relaxed, convivial setting where Kentish produce takes centre stage. Raised in Whitstable to a West Indian mother and Scottish father, James takes inspiration from the yin and yang nature of his upbringing to showcase an experimental menu that reflects his own multi-faceted heritage.
With a clear intention to focus on the quality of ingredients, much of the produce at 1251 is sourced directly through James’ personal relationships with small-scale independent suppliers, with lamb originating from Whitstable, pork from Faversham and seafood from the south west coast.
The a la carte menu focuses primarily on plates served in a sharing style for lunch and dinner, with the offering including the option of a five- or eight-course tasting menu (both available as vegetarian). For larger groups, James will be serving his signature Goat Sharing Board with a selection of cuts of goat served alongside accompaniments including Black Eyed Pea Dahl, Roti, Scotch Bonnet Jam, Pineapple and more. Sample dishes on the a la carte menu feature:
Raw Orkney Scallops, Buttermilk Whey, Red Meat Radish, Green Apple, Charcoal
Potato Spaghetti, Cured Egg Yolk, Truffle, Burnt Butter Cream
Organic Kent-Breed Pork, Blood Pudding, Smoked Eel, Turnip Kimchi, Apricot, Miso
Jerk-Spiced Monkfish, Iceberg Lettuce, Watermelon, Coriander
For those stopping by between lunch and dinner, 1251 offers an unmissable snacks menu, available from morning through to late night, with each option reflecting James’ passion for well-sourced ingredients and bold attitude to flavour combinations. Sample snacks include:
Potato Crisp, Whitstable Oyster Cream, Seaweed, Vinegar
Picked White and Brown Devon Crab Tartlet, Prawn Butter
Smoked Kipper and Leek Toastie
Confit Cauliflower, Fermented Bagna Cauda, Walnuts
The carefully chosen wine selection focuses on organic bottles sourced from all over the world. The cocktail offering features house classics such as the 1251 Negroni, which James has uniquely formulated himself with house-made vermouth infused with sweet cicely foraged from Kent, as well as the 1251 Bloody Mary Martini and more inventive creations that take inspiration from standout kitchen ingredients.
1251 by James Cochran is now open, serving lunch and dinner every day. Reservations can be made online at www.1251.co.uk.
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm | Lunch: 12-3pm | Dinner: 5-10.30pm
1251
107 Upper Street
London, N1 1QN
