This autumn, 'MasterChef: The Professionals' winner Alex Webb is opening his debut restaurant, Orion, right in the heart of Wimbledon Village.
Named after the Orion constellation, the restaurant is a tribute to Webb's late father and two grandfathers – the three men who inspired his love of food and hospitality. Orion is all about laid-back luxury: think a British-meets-French sharing menu with a prominent focus on seafood, seasonality, and local suppliers.
There'll be a daily fish counter stacked with oysters, king crab, and the catch of the day, plus Webb's signature dishes – mini crab waffles with caviar, his lobster and prawn toast, and fun desserts like cinnamon doughnuts with raspberry compôte or his Twix-inspired tonka bean shortbread. Sundays will even see a dessert trolley weaving its way through the dining room.
Local investors, neighbourhood producers, and even a crowdfunding campaign helped bring Orion to life, so it's rooted in Wimbledon as much as it is in Webb's own story. The restaurant will open with a soft launch this autumn before fully welcoming the village, and, no doubt, a loyal crowd of MasterChef fans.