Updated 19/1/17 with shortlist

After six years, the Scotch Egg Challenge is now one of the key dates in the London food calendar. This year's event will take place at The Canonbury in Islington on 8 February.

Confirmed judges for the event itself include Fay Maschler from the Evening Standard, Ben Chapman of Smoking Goat and Kiln and Bob Granleese of the Guardian, while the evening will be compered by Joe

Big changes are afoot in the Garage in Islington. It was recently bought, along with the Borderline, by DHP Family. A big refurb is planned to the venue in general, including a new sound system and more. 

But it's the addition of the General Store all-day bar that has us interested. As passers-by will know, you can't actually see into The Garage from the outside, but that's going to change. You'll now be able to see into

After 15 years serving modern British cuisine in Islington, Almeida will close its doors for the last time on 1 January, with a new Italian set to rise up in its place.

Details are scant, but what we do know is that the new Italian restaurant is planned to open a few months later, there’ll be a considerable interior design overhaul (though we trust they’ll keep the floor-to-ceiling

With its cobbled streets, quaint houses and antique markets, Camden Passage is a veritable haven from the busyness of Upper Street. Now you’ll be able to further unwind with a soothing cup of traditional Japanese tea thanks to the arrival of Katsute 100.

There’s a huge drinks menu, including tea served by the pot and flavoured tea by the cup, plus non-leaf teas and takeaway options too. The most familiar tea on the menu is Sencha, which also comes available in

Bad tidings to report today as Islington Rotisserie spot LeCoq is closing its doors just before Christmas. As it's one of Hot Dinners' local restaurants, it's particularly bad news, but the team are looking towards new ventures in the new year. In the meantime, you have until 23 December to get down there and try some of the best rotisserie chicken in town, not to mention more rotisseried beasts (like the mutton above) and the amazing roast potatoes. And to find out more

We return to Islington's LeCoq to check out their brand new menu with a lot more than chicken in the rotisserie. 

Good news for fans of LeCoq’s rotisserie roasted chicken - the Islington brasserie is reinventing itself as a full-time rotisserie restaurant.

Hibernation season is still quite a ways off yet, but for fans of LeCoq it might be time to embrace the elasticated waistband already. Previously only available on Sundays, their golden (spit) roast dinners, including their Sutton Hoo chickens, will soon be available to

It's all change at this Islington brasserie with a new menu and a new terrace

Rok have opened their second restaurant in Islington - we went to try it out

We've got to say, we like the way street parties are going. They're no longer the kind of thing where the best you could expect food and drink-wise would be some curling sarnies, pasta salad of dubious origin and some lukewarm sauvignon blanc.

And the one that has Hot Dinners' name written all over it (not literally) is the Colebrook Row street party in Islington this weekend. Tony Conigliaro’s cocktail bar 69

07/06/16 - Updated with soft launch info.

We've been in the Islington area for a long time now and we've really noticed that the past few years or so have seen a real improvement in Holloway Road's food scene. So we look with interest to the opening of a new pizzeria, Zia Lucia, which is different enough to get our attention...  

The pizza bases are 48-hour slow fermented doughs. And

Jay Rayner praised the "the sheer pleasure" of their food. Grace Dent eulogised their "highly devourable sharing plates". And on the back of such success Shoreditch smokehouse Rök are now opening their second restaurant. They're taking over a Grade II listed building halfway up Upper Street where they'll open a 60-seat restaurant and bar in July.

Rök Islington will launch with a seasonal summer menu by executive chef Matt Young featuring aged beef rump with

JaguarShoes Collective are expanding their empire further north, taking over pie and mash spot Manze on Chapel Market for two months. Every evening the beautiful art deco cafe will transform into a cocktail speakeasy. They'll be serving up prohibition era style cocktails with a modern twist - such as Hanky Panky - Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Fernet Branca Menta. They're also promising plenty of oysters too. If you're heading out after work, head down there

Seafood with a huge dash of sex appeal, Galley brings va va voom to N1

The revitalisation of Islington's dining scene continues apace with news of another interesting restaurant opening on Upper Street. Galley restaurant and bar takes over the space occupied by United Ramen and is a venture by brother and sister team Oriona Robb and Marcel Grzyb.

Marcel's been Head Chef at Soho’s Randall & Aubin for a decade and, as you might expect given his background, he's put together a menu with a strong focus on seafood.

His sister