Do you feel lucky? Londoners certainly should as acclaimed Cape Town restaurant Pot Luck takes over the Waldorf Hilton for a three-month residency from 13 August to 30 November 2025.
Chef Luke Dale-Roberts’ celebrated small-plate menu will be served in the hotel’s Homage dining room, with seasonal British ingredients getting the Pot Luck treatment.
The residency will also extend to The Wild Monkey bar, where head bartender Abby Long and the Pot Luck team have created a bespoke cocktail list, paired with a new bar snacks menu.
Dale-Roberts is among the most celebrated chefs in South Africa; as well as the Pot Luck Club, his restaurants include The Test Kitchen and The Shortmarket Club. He was also an original partner in the brilliant Salsify at the Roundhouse which we visited earlier this year.
We spoke to Dale-Roberts about bringing a touch of Luck to London.
The Pot Luck Club has become one of Cape Town’s culinary landmarks. What was the original vision when you launched it, and how has that evolved over time?
The original idea was simple: I wanted to create a space where flavour came first. A place that was playful, energetic and a bit irreverent, somewhere diners could explore bold, globally inspired small plates without the formality of fine dining.
Over the years, it’s become more than that.The Pot Luck Club has developed its own rhythm and following. It’s still rooted in that spirit of creativity and approachability, but with a depth of technique and consistency that comes from more than a decade of refinement.
The team – chef Luke is centre
Why the Waldorf Hilton and why now?
We’ve been talking about bringing The Pot Luck Club to London for years, it was always the natural next step, particularly as someone born in the UK. The Waldorf Hilton felt like the perfect partner. There’s history, elegance and a certain theatricality to that space, and that aligns beautifully with what we do.
It’s also a hotel that understands hospitality beyond just a great plate of food. The timing just felt right. The team, the city, the appetite for something different.
Cape Town has a very specific energy. How does that inform the spirit of the restaurant – and how do you translate that to a London hotel?
Cape Town has this raw, unfiltered vibrancy, it’s a city that’s constantly evolving, and that keeps you sharp. That spirit is embedded in The Pot Luck Club: it’s relaxed but precise, expressive but deeply focused on flavour.
Translating that to London means preserving that edge, not mimicking the location, but bringing the energy of the original to a new context. We’ve worked closely with The Waldorf team to ensure the tone, service style and even the layout reflect that same spirit.
How do the two cities compare in terms of hospitality culture?
They’re very different but equally compelling. Cape Town has an intimacy to it, a kind of creative camaraderie among chefs and restaurateurs. London, on the other hand, has scale and an incredible diversity of talent and influence.
The expectations are different, but the goal is the same: to create something that leaves a lasting impression. I think what Cape Town does well is offer warmth and authenticity, which is something we’re bringing to the London experience.
Will the menu be a greatest-hits selection, or are you creating something bespoke for London diners?
A bit of both. There are certain dishes we couldn’t leave behind, they’re part of the Pot Luck DNA. But we’re also adapting based on British produce, seasonality and palate. We’re not trying to replicate Cape Town exactly; we want this to feel rooted in London, just through the lens of The Pot Luck Club. That mix of familiarity and newness is part of the fun.
Do you see this residency as a one-off – or could it be the seed of a more permanent presence?
Let’s just say we’re open to possibilities. This residency is about sharing what we’ve built with a new audience, testing the waters and seeing how London responds. If the appetite is there, who knows? It could well be the beginning of something more long-term. But right now, we’re focused on making these three months unforgettable.
Finally, what’s one dish you have to put on the London menu, no matter what? The one that best sums up The Pot Luck Club?
The smoked beef fillet with truffle café au lait sauce. It’s been on the menu since day one and continues to surprise people. It’s rich, unexpected, and unashamedly flavour-forward, exactly what The Pot Luck Club is all about.
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Pot Luck takes over the Waldorf Hilton from 13 August to 30 November 2025; book a table here
