Island, the acclaimed surf and turf restaurant at Mare Street Market in King’s Cross, will serve its final meal on Sunday August 16, after which chefs Tom Brown and Brad Carter will relocate the venture to a new London location. The pair announced the move on Instagram this week, stating that the restaurant is “heading to a brand-new home in London.”
A four-star run at Mare Street Market
Island opened in June 2025 on the top deck of Mare Street Market, offering modern interpretations of classic surf and turf dishes. The menu featured catch-of-the-day Sunday roasts, skewered oysters, and prawn-stuffed chicken wings. Upon opening, Time Out awarded the restaurant four stars, with critic Lisa Wright praising the “modern makeover” the chef duo gave to the traditional concept, describing dishes as “proudly extravagant” with “fun twists and clever cooking with a relatable swagger.”
The closure marks the end of a short but notable chapter for the restaurant in the N1 postcode. Brown and Carter’s Instagram announcement framed the departure as a celebratory send-off: “We wanted to give this place a proper send-off and anyone who knows us – know we don’t do things quietly. So consider this your invitation,” they wrote, confirming that Island King’s Cross will shuck its last oyster on August 16.
New home reportedly in Clerkenwell
While the official opening date and address have not been disclosed, hospitality industry publication Propel has reported that Island will move into the upstairs of The George & Dragon, a gastropub in Clerkenwell currently undergoing refurbishment, with a target opening early next month. Neither Brown nor Carter has confirmed the Clerkenwell location publicly.
For Brown, the move follows a busy period in his career. His Michelin-starred Hackney seafood restaurant Cornerstone closed in 2024, and his Shoreditch oyster bar Pearly Queen shut its doors last September. In April 2025, he opened his eponymous restaurant at The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge.
Impact on London’s dining scene
Island’s relocation adds to a shifting landscape for London’s seafood dining, with Brown’s projects consolidating around new ventures. The King’s Cross site will cease operations on August 16, and customers awaiting the restaurant’s return will need to follow Island’s social channels for details on the new location. The reported Clerkenwell move, if confirmed, would place Island in a historic pub setting, potentially broadening its appeal beyond the market-based format of its current home.
