Shaftesbury Capital welcome new F&B concepts in Soho
Shaftesbury Capital has announced six new hospitality additions to its Soho portfolio, as operators continue to thrive across the creative and vibrant neighbourhood. Kingly Street welcomes two new signings from The Counter and Little Door & Co. alongside the upsize of pub and cocktail bar Two Floors; whilst three-storey alfresco dining destination, Kingly Court, has introduced two new debut concepts, Liu Xiaomian and Donia, and celebrates the reopening of pan Asian specialist, OKA, together adding to Soho’s exciting collection of hospitality brands.
Debuting at 15-16 Kingly Street this May, is contemporary Aegean restaurant The Counter. With space for 60 covers spanning c2,000 sq ft, and a 20-seat terrace outside, The Counter will be bringing its coal-fired, Middle Eastern flavours to the West End for the first time, offering a seasonal menu focused on traditional small plates and mains cooked on the open-kitchen’s grill. There is also a 30-cover downstairs bar, Under The Counter, with cocktails drawing inspiration from Greece, Turkey, the Mediterranean and Levant.
Complementing the neighbourhood is the hotly anticipated launch of the latest venue from the Little Door & Co. Joining four other leading sites across London, the 3,400 sq ft bar and restaurant located at 9 Kingly Street, named The Little Violet Door, will provide an afternoon to late night offer with a house party-style environment and unique identity.
Pub and cocktail bar, Two Floors, has expanded its presence in Soho, made possible by Shaftesbury Capital undertaking a comprehensive redevelopment of three townhouses to create new ground floor units and over 14,000 sq ft of offices above. Formerly occupying just 3 Kingly Street, Two Floors have extended into number 4, boasting a combined 2,850 sq ft that will allow them to introduce an enhanced food offer featuring pub classics.
Cult noodle bar, Liu Xiaomian has opened on the first floor of Kingly Court and marks its first ever permanent bricks-and-mortar location. Drawing inspiration from the bold flavours of Chongqing, China, Liu Xiaomian serves its renowned spicy Chongqing noodles, while pig trotter noodles and aubergine salad have been added to the Kingly Court menu.
Newly opened modern Filipino restaurant, Donia, joins the diverse Kingly Court line-up on the top floor. Focused on sharing plates, Donia is the latest concept from Maginhawa Group, led by leading Filipino restaurateurs Florence Mae Maglanoc and Omar Shah, who also have fusion restaurant Ramo Ramen and dessert parlour Mamasons within Shaftesbury Capital’s portfolio.
After nearly a decade at Kingly Court, popular pan Asian and sushi specialist, OKA, have re-opened their West End flagship restaurant. Expanding the venue, as well as a significant investment to refurbish the space, has brought a fresh décor and experience to Kingly Court diners.
Michelle McGrath, Executive Director at Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “The country’s best hospitality entrepreneurs seek out Soho for its reputation as the epicentre of London’s vibrant dining scene, with a food-savvy consumer base that truly understand dining quality and innovation, but also a critical mass of thriving restaurants, cafés, bars, and pubs. High quality hospitality, like these new signings, lies at the heart of the West End’s flourishing eco-system, and Soho exemplifies this with its concentration of office workers, local residents, and global and domestic visitors.”
Kemal Demirasal, Chef-Founder at The Counter, added: “We’re really excited to be bringing the flavours of the Aegean, which unites Greece and Turkey, to central London. We couldn’t be happier to be opening our second restaurant in Soho, and to open our first ever bar, Under The Counter, in the heart of London’s vibrant West End.”
Kamran Dehdashti and Jamie Hazeel, Co-Founders of Little Door & Co., said: “Following the success of The Little Scarlet Door, our ambition has always been to grow our footprint in central London. From hosting our first pop-up ten years ago, our fifth site is a real milestone. The Little Violet Door takes us back to our British heritage and the iconic history of Kingly Street perfectly aligns with our vision.”
The new hospitality additions to Soho will join some of the best restaurants and bars in London, including the likes of Bébé Bob, Kiln, Mountain, and Broadwick Hotel.