Former Kiln head chef confirms opening date for debut restaurant

The former head chef of Kiln in London’s Soho is to open her first restaurant, Pam, in London’s Farringdon on 3 November.

Details of Karla Knowles’ first project in collaboration with Edouard and Romain Bourrillon, the team behind Maisons Vivantes, were first announced in July.

Pam will serve a vibrant selection of dishes showcasing Thai flavours, European technique and British seasonal produce.

The menu will feature the likes of miang kham, bite-sized snacks filled with British produce and wrapped in betel leaves; Knowles’ take on khao soi noi, and roast duck with frites and curry sauce.

The 45-cover restaurant will also host a rotating programme of quarterly art exhibitions and events with chefs, artists, winemakers and DJs.

The opening of Pam coincides with the London Museum redevelopment at Smithfield Market.

In early 2027, Knowles will open the fire-led, Thai-inspired restaurant Aree in London’s Notting Hill, also in partnership with Maisons Vivantes.

She has worked across the London hospitality scene for almost a decade, having honed her craft at Mark Hix’s Tramshed in Shoreditch, Petersham Nurseries in Richmond and Wolf in Stoke Newington before joining Super 8’s Kiln, famed for its Thai grill, seafood and claypots.