Dishoom expansion spices up St Martin's Courtyard offering
Longmartin Properties Ltd, a joint venture between Shaftesbury and The Mercers’ Company, has announced the expansion of renowned Bombay café, Dishoom Covent Garden. The announcement of Dishoom’s expansion marks the start of a wider £8 million refurbishment of St Martin’s Courtyard.
Located at 11/12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, anchor tenant Dishoom will undergo a major redesign to mark the restaurant’s 10thanniversary, including an expansion into the neighbouring unit (formerly Jamie’s Italian). By combining the units, the Dishoom team will look to create the best restaurant yet. Dishoom Covent Garden will be redesigned by creative partners, Macaulay Sinclair, the architecture and design studio behind Dishoom King’s Cross, Carnaby, Kensington, Edinburgh and Manchester. The first Dishoom opened in Covent Garden in 2010, and Dishoom now has five cafés in London, one in Edinburgh, and one in Manchester.
The new Dishoom Covent Garden will be launched in 2020,following the completion of the £8 million refurbishment of St Martin’s Courtyard this December. St Martin’s Courtyard will be transformed into an urban oasis in the heart of London’s West End, providing a vibrant space for visitors to relax, shop and dine. Dishoom will be in good company alongside retail brands Lululemon, & Other Stories, COS and The White Company and the new concept Bill’s. London-based architects, Brimelow McSweeney, were tasked for this project to introduce a new ‘terrace colonnade’ style dining area and additional restaurant opportunities all to be focal points within the courtyard. The sculptured two-floor seating will also feature an undercover space so dining can be enjoyed from day-to-night, all year round.
Commenting on behalf of Longmartin Properties Ltd, Charles Owen, Portfolio Executive at Shaftesbury, said: “We are entering a very exciting period for St Martin’s Courtyard. Ten years on Dishoom remains a much-loved eatery and its expansion will not only mark a new beginning for the restaurant, but also the courtyard itself.
“The timely investment for St Martin’s Courtyard will deliver an even more inviting and engaging destination, combining new brands and a new look with the high-performing existing offer to create one of the most appealing areas in London’s West End and in readiness ofthe new Elizabeth Line and the anticipated increase in footfall to the Covent Garden area.”
This news follows the recent launch by Longmartin properties of The Arbour building on 143 Long Acre. Designed by Iain Ritchie Associates features 4,000 sq ft of retail space and 7,600 sq ft of offices. These two significant projects total over £18 million of investment in St Martin’s Courtyard this year.
Colliers, Hanover Green Retail and DCL are the leasing agents for St Martin’s Courtyard. CBRE is the asset manager on behalf of Longmartin Properties. Graeme Wait acted for Dishoom.
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For further information, please contact Amy Cassidy and Yasemin Kiani at Aver via:amycassidy@averpr.comand yaseminkiani@averpr.com
Notes to Editors
About St Martin’s Courtyard
St Martin’s Courtyard, a shopping and dining destination located in the heart of Covent Garden, is owned by Longmartin Properties Ltd, the joint venture between Shaftesbury and The Mercers’ Company. Situated between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, St Martin’s Courtyard offers an array of unique shops, restaurants and experiences.
About Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury owns and manages a 15.1-acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London’s West End. Focused on restaurants, leisure and retail in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, it also includes substantial ownership in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia. The portfolio comprises 599 shops, restaurants, cafés and pubs extending to 1.1 million sq. ft., 599 apartments and 0.5 million sq. ft. of offices.
We focus on the sustainable re-use of existing buildings and aim to minimise the environmental impact of our operations across the business.
We are committed to engaging and working with the community in which we operate. We align our activities and support with organisations which are active in the West End, including those which support the arts, community groups, schools and charities, and those which focus on local social issues and environmental changes.
About The Mercers’ Company
The Mercers’ Company is a 700-year-old livery company focused on being a philanthropic force for good.
Each year our aim is to distribute £15 million to charitable causes. Our giving is focused on Young People & Education, Older People & Housing and Church & Communities. This allows us to create positive change across generations, giving those we help the chance to live a fulfilling life now and in the future.
The Mercers’ support 180 individual charities annually and provide high-quality accommodation to 215 residents in our six almshouses, work closely with our associated schools which educate 18,000 children, and appoint 88 charity trustees and school governors.
About Dishoom
Dishoom pays loving homage to the Irani cafés that were once part of the fabric of life in Bombay. Opened early last century by Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran, there were almost 400 of these cafés at their peak in the 1960s. Today, fewer than 30 remain. These cafés broke down barriers by bringing people together over food and drink. They were the first places in Bombay where people of any culture, class or religion could take cool refuge from the street with a cup of chai, a simple snack or a hearty meal. People from all walks of life shared tables, rubbed shoulders and broke bread together.
Like the old Irani café, Dishoom breaks down barriers: in its restaurants, which employ and serve people from all walks of life, at its events, and through charity (donating a meal for every meal – 6.6 million meals so far).
Dishoom serves a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food and award-winning drinks in beautiful restaurants with unique stories. Everything Dishoom does shares its love for Bombay’s culture, heritage and people, and everyone is welcomed with warmth.
Dishoom is managed by a team of Babus* led by co-founders Shamil and Kavi Thakrar. Naved Nasir is the Executive Chef-walla. The first Dishoom opened in Covent Garden in 2010, and Dishoom now has five cafés in London, one in Edinburgh, and one in Manchester.
*Babu can be a term of respect in India but is more frequently used to refer to bureaucrats behind desks who don’t do much.