Luke Farrell is taking his Thai restaurant west this summer
Since it opened in Chinatown in 2022, Speedboat Bar (one of two restaurants Luke Farrell has done in partnership with JKS, the other being Plaza Khao Gaeng at Arcade Food Hall), has won over legions of fans for its spicy Thai dishes, Singha beer towers and fast and furious energy.
Now the restaurant, inspired by Bangkok’s Chinatown and the speedboats that race along the canals of Thailand, is expanding into Notting Hill and taking up residence inside Soho House’s Electric House on Portobello Road. The restaurant will look a little different to the original – it won’t have the same clubhouse vibe and there won’t be a pool table, but there will be a shuffleboard and a real Thai speedboat engine will have pride of place instead – but the menu will be very similar.
That means as well as whisky sodas and snakeblood negronis, you can expect dishes like:
- tom yam mama seafood soup
- crunchy chicken salad with green mango kerabu
- salted duck egg with celery, chilli and crispy anchovies
- minced beef with holy basil
- whole sea brea with kaffir lime
- purple aubergine with chilli and Thai basil
- pineapple pie with taro ice crea,
- mango pudding with red pomelo
Speaking about the new opening, Luke said: “A Thai speedboat racing team isn’t driven by one person. It’s the whole crew – tight, fearless and tuned to perfection. From the meticulous mechanics squeezing every last drop from their engines, to the traditional boat builders, the gleaming livery and bold paintwork down the sides – these machines are a craft. A melding of classic and contemporary, and quintessentially Thai.
“That spirit defines Speedboat Bar. From sourcing ingredients directly from Thailand, to growing the seasonal herbs in my tropical greenhouses, to building a team that can faithfully recreate everything from Bangkok’s Chinatown and beyond.
“Now, we’re proud to announce the opening of a second Speedboat Bar this summer on Portobello Road. Not a Bangkok shophouse with a clubhouse above, but the engine room. To build, tune, and roar these beasts into life.”
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Key Information
Opening date | Thurs 10th July 2025
Address | 191 Portobello Road, London W11 2ED
For more information | speedboatbar.co.uk