"The very first Poon's Restaurant opened in 1973, bringing Cantonese food to the streets south of Soho and helping forge London's second Chinatown (the first was in Limehouse). Founded by Bill and Cecilia Poon, it was followed by the celeb-magnet that was Poon's of Covent Garden, which welcomed the likes of Frank Sinatra and Mick Jagger, and also won a Michelin star in 1980."
"At its peak there were seven branches of Poon's, including in Russell Square and Whiteley's in Bayswater. Though the Poons retired from the restaurant business in 2003, their daughter Amy Poon has been keeping the family name alive via various pop-ups and a food and lifestyle brand, and has just opened her first restaurant. Poon's at Somerset House can be found in a high-ceilinged antechamber in the west wing of the historic London building. It opened in November 2025."
Poon's began in 1973, introducing Cantonese cuisine to streets south of Soho and helping forge London's second Chinatown. Bill and Cecilia Poon founded the original restaurant and later opened Poon's of Covent Garden, which hosted celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Mick Jagger and earned a Michelin star in 1980. The group grew to seven branches, including Russell Square and Whiteley's in Bayswater. The Poons retired from the restaurant business in 2003. Their daughter Amy Poon maintained the family name through pop-ups and a food and lifestyle brand and has now opened her first restaurant. Poon's at Somerset House occupies a high-ceilinged antechamber in the west wing and opened in November 2025.
Read at Time Out London
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