Tokyo-Style Izakaya 'Mitsu' to Open in Shoreditch
A new Japanese izakaya named Mitsu is set to open in Shoreditch, aiming to replicate the after-work drinking and dining culture of Tokyo. The restaurant will feature Japanese small plates and a vibrant atmosphere typical of an authentic izakaya. The opening adds another option to London's thriving Japanese culinary scene.
Mitsu will open in April 2026 on Willow Street, taking over the site formerly occupied by Nobu and aiming for a livelier, more casual experience. Co-founded by Steven Bonnington, who also serves as General Manager, the kitchen is led by Executive Chef Aaj Fernando. The menu will center on robata grilling, with dishes like kushiyaki skewers and kamameshi rice, alongside snacks such as chicken karaage and wagyu sandos. The venue's design, a collaboration with Astet Studio, is inspired by East Tokyo's street culture and the Japanese concept of "utsuroi," or gradual change. Guests will enter through a corridor of LED arches, into a space with high ceilings and a central bar designed to create an immersive atmosphere that shifts from a bright, open daytime feel to an intimate, high-energy social space at night. The open kitchen is a key feature, designed to showcase the "theatre" of robata cooking. In a first for a London venue, Mitsu will offer Japanese whisky highballs on draft through a partnership with Suntory Whisky. The drinks program, curated by Soul Shakers, also includes a unique Japanese-style sake produced in collaboration with the UK-based Kanpai Sake Brewery. The shift to privacy-first advertising is accelerating in 2026, with a focus on first-party data, contextual AI, and clean room technology to replace third-party cookie targeting. Programmatic ad spend continues to grow, particularly in Connected TV (CTV), with AI-driven platforms automating smarter buying, bidding, and optimization. This move towards operational sustainability also emphasizes reducing ad waste through more efficient technological infrastructures. For B2B SaaS CTOs, the focus is on integrating AI agents to automate workflows and create more personalized, adaptive platforms. By January 2026, 72% of enterprises were using or testing AI agents, primarily in customer support and operations, to handle tasks like data management and support triage. This has led to a debate around open vs. closed data ecosystems, as large suite providers position their integrated AI agents, operating on native data, against best-of-breed solutions. UK tech funding has seen a selective start to 2026, with $4.27 billion raised in 194 equity rounds through early March, a drop from the $6.11 billion raised in 408 rounds during the same period in 2025. Recent London-based seed rounds include a $3.5 million raise for Alpa, an AI-powered financial platform for the hospitality industry. Venture capital activity remains concentrated in AI and fintech, with institutional investors focusing on companies showing clear paths to commercialization. The 2026 Formula 1 season opener in Australia will see the pit lane speed limit reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h to accommodate the new 11th team, Cadillac. The new technical regulations for 2026 have also introduced challenges under braking, with an increase in MGU-K energy harvesting leading to more frequent lock-ups during pre-season testing. Meanwhile, concerns are growing over the F1 schedule, with potential disruption to the upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to regional conflict.
