Many of us will travel a little this summer, so we are pleased to be able to bring restaurant updates from Brighton, Edinburgh, Cape Town and Sri Lanka here. For those staying put, we have some must-order oyster dishes and news of the impending arrival of Imad Alarnab's, quite frankly, legendary za'atar croissants. Enjoy.

LATEST NEWS

Chef Rafael Cagali to open MAREA in Hove this September

Next month, Marea will open its doors in Hove - a new restaurant from Chef Rafael Cagali and his partner Charlie Lee, of the two-Michelin starred Da Terra and Elis at Bethnal Green Town Hall. Translating to 'tide' in Italian, Marea's menu will be inspired by its East Sussex locale, and will respond to the seasons with a selection of bites, small plates, mains and sharers all showcasing seasonal ingredients of the highest quality. Read more here.

THE PALMERSTON and NEWBARNS to open THE COOPER'S REST

The team behind Edinburgh's The Palmerston are partnering with local brewery Newbarns to open a pub, The Cooper's Rest. The project will revive the existing The Cooper's Rest pub in Leith, which has been closed since 2015, and create a welcoming space with an exceptional food and drink offering. There will be modern takes on classic comfort food, made using the best local and seasonal produce, and plenty of Newbarns beers available to accompany. Read more here.

Imad Alarnab to open ARAM at Somerset House next month

Aram, the new cafe, deli and restaurant from Imad Alarnab, founder of Imad's Syrian Kitchen, will open its doors at Somerset House next month. The menu will feature Labneh with poached eggs, grilled sourdough, Aleppo chilli and crispy onions and Brioche french toast with tahini clotted cream and carob molasses, alongside plentiful salads, and signature pastries including Za'atar croissants - also available to take away. Read more here.

LANNAN PANTRY comes to Edinburgh this autumn

This autumn will see the opening of Lannan Pantry - a standalone retail and events space situated just next to the bakery. Stocking everything from charcuterie and cheeses to fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, the pantry will be a one-stop-shop for quality produce. There will also be sausages and bacon produced at Lannan's new in-house butchery, as well as fresh pastas, sauces and dips, and of course breads from Lannan Bakery. Read more here.

WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH

Pack your bags and head to Edinburgh for the Fringe festival and more this month. Sophie Bamford (AKA All Day Cake) is popping up at Lannan today, serving treats including a Coconut and passion fruit 'Highland cow' choux. Coop - the fried chicken and lobster roll pop-up from Cardinal's Tomás Gormley - is back, serving at George Square Gardens and The Gilded Saloon. The Palmerston's chef friends will take over the kitchen on Sunday evenings, from Murid's Afghan Feast to Big Dip, Arete to Tumshie. Italian enoteca and trattoria Sotto is marking the Ferragosto festival with a four course, family-style menu available this month. In London, Pastaio's summer slushy series continues with Alana Laverty's Peach, basil and balsamic frozen margarita (£1 from each sold will be donated to World Central Kitchen). Oriole has launched its 'Hot Club', bringing live jazz to summer Thursday evenings, combining jazz manouche with Latin American food and cocktails.

DISH SPOTLIGHT: OYSTERS

Oysters In My Pocket cocktail, served with an Islay oyster at Leftfield

The house martini at Edinburgh's Leftfield combines oyster shell-infused vodka with vermouth. The cocktail is garnished with Channel Wrack seaweed from the Scottish coastline, and served with an Islay oyster.

Oyster with kohlrabi, sorrel, oyster leaf and shiso at Kitchen Table

At Kitchen Table in Fitzrovia, an oyster with seasonal toppings is one of the signature snacks on the restaurant's daily changing menu. Currently, it is served with kohlrabi, sorrel, oyster leaf and shiso.

Tonic Studio client Spotlight: Crust Bros

Following the long-standing success of its Waterloo restaurant, Crust Bros has now opened its second location, this time in the heart of Covent Garden. Tonic Studio supported the launch earlier this month, delivering a pre-launch content plan, a same-day launch video on opening day, and a series of mailouts in the lead up, including subscriber-only offers to mark the launch.

Congratulations to Joe and the entire Crust Bros team on this exciting new chapter!