Bites: Now for some comforting news...

Head chefs at London's top hotel restaurants are fleeing in droves – well, in pairs at least. Last week, Nick Bell left Aspley's SW1 at the Lanesborough after just six months in the job (because of several not-too-complimentary reviews?). Meanwhile, the Dorchester's Aiden Byrne is rediscovering his roots with a gastropub in Liverpool. If only they'd known about the opening of the capital's new David Collins-designed brasserie, Bob Bob Ricard. Just the ticket for chefs with anti-social hours, BBR will serve posh "English comfort food" from James Walker, former head chef at Pont de la Tour, from 7am-3am.

There's more comfort food at the third branch of award-winning British diner Canteen, which opens at the end of this month on Baker Street – to be followed by a fourth, on the Canary Wharf site Tom Aikens's Tom's Kitchen was due to take before it went into receivership last month. A blessing in disguise for Tom, maybe: will there will be any local customers left by the time it opens?