Canary Wharf New Restaurant Sites are Fully Booked

2009-09-14

The fully let signs have gone up on one of London’s most exciting new eating destinations.

The under construction Park Pavilion in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square is opening in the autumn, and its latest signing the parlour means it will be fully occupied, also accommodating Roka, Canteen, Wahaca and a Lloyds TSB retail branch.

The new Pavilion’s restaurants and bars will be joining nearby Jamie’s Italian; the Jamie Oliver inspired restaurant which opened on 5 August; and Rocket, which opens in Churchill Place in early 2010. The signings make Canary Wharf one of the UK’s most dynamic ‘hotspots’ for new hospitality openings this year.

“At least six restaurant and bar signings in 2009 make it a very exciting time for Canary Wharf,” says Camille Waxer, Vice President of Retail at Canary Wharf Group plc.

“The new restaurants will complement the existing array of bars and restaurants here. These are some of the most sought after brands in London. They will cater for the future growth of Canary Wharf and further enhance our ability to entice Londoners into the area in the evenings and weekends,” she said.

Restaurant and bar openings will create over 400 jobs at Canary Wharf in 2009, adding to the 90,000 plus workers already on the Estate.

Canada Square is one of the world’s most prestigious business addresses, with headquarters for KPMG, HSBC, Citi, McGraw-Hill and Trinity Mirror, amongst others. It is home to One Canada Square, Britain’s tallest building.

It also hosts a number top quality events, including open air concerts, the annual Canary Wharf Motorexpo in June and the Canary Wharf Ice Rink in the winter.

The upcoming Park Pavilion restaurant and bar openings are:

Canteen - www.canteen.co.uk

Opens 19 October.

Canteen, the award-winning restaurant will open its fourth restaurant, Canteen Canary Wharf, in the Park Pavilion on 19 October. The creation of Dominic Lake, Patrick Clayton-Malone and Cass Titcombe, the Canteen concept was born out of an obvious gap in the market for high quality British food, as supposed to the endless trend for international restaurant chains. As a result Canteen is a celebration of all things British: a very modern café.

For the first time the menu at Canteen Canary Wharf will be available for take away and like its siblings include signature dishes such as fish and chips, a daily roast and regularly changing pies. Daily specials also compliment the menu and remain a celebration of what is currently in season.

Drinks are also a big part of what Canteen offer so a regularly updated cocktail list all celebrating British flavours is available and sits alongside a considered wine list and great choice of beer, stouts and ales. In keeping with Canteen’s design philosophy the 3,338 square feet restaurant will reflect Canteen’s signature modern, democratic and welcoming style.

Determined to raise the standard of British food on the high street, Canteen highlights the diversity and scope within British cooking. In doing so it maintains cooking skills in the kitchen, ensuring that everything it delivers is with responsibility and integrity.

“We are genuinely excited to sign our fourth site, Canary Wharf, maintaining our considered approach to Canteen's expansion,” says Patrick Clayton-Malone, Canteen’s co-founder.

ROKA – www.rokarestaurant.com

Opens late October.

Rainer Becker’s latest opening arrives at Canary Wharf this October; since ZUMA’s launch in 2002 and ROKA’s in 2004, the London born ZUMA and ROKA restaurants have been expanding to international locations - Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Arizona and now, the latest ROKA is opening back home in London’s Canary Wharf.

The cuisine at ROKA is based around the warmth and energy of the Robata grill along with dishes from the main kitchen and a selection of sushi and sashimi. Whilst many ROKA Charlotte street favourites will, of course, be on the menu, Canary Wharf will boast its own dishes created by ROKA’s Group Executive Chef Nic Watt & Head Chef Mr. Yoshi Muranaka, re-forming their partnership which began in 2002.

ROKA Canary Wharf will accommodate up to 140 guests comprising the main restaurant, the bar and an external seated terrace, overlooking Canada Square Park. The Canary Wharf ROKA will also incorporate the first ‘Robata Chef’s table’, where guests can be seated within the energy and action of the open charcoal robata kitchen, the very essence of all that is ROKA.

Rainer Becker co-founder of Zuma / Roka comments: “I am particularly looking forward to opening a further Roka in London as I very much consider the city my home. I have been looking for a suitable site for a long time. Canary Wharf offers a unique urban environment with its own energy and is a great contrast to our West End location. I’m looking forward to bringing Roka to a whole new audience”.

the parlour - www.theparlourbar.co.uk

Opens 12 October.

Drake & Morgan, the privately owned bar group responsible for the launch of the refinery on Southwark Street in September last year, is to launch its second site, the parlour, in Canary Wharf this October. Located in the ground floor of the Canada Square Pavilion, the parlour is a bar and kitchen featuring a number of distinct areas.

As well as the main bar, there's a restaurant with long party tables and removable intimate circular booths, a cocktail lounge, a wine room, a mezzanine for private events and large alfresco terrace that leads onto Canada Square Park.

The parlour will offer an all-day, modern European food menu, from breakfast to dinner with a focus on provenance and seasonality, alongside a range of cocktails, wines and beers.

Jillian MacLean, Managing Director, Drake & Morgan comments:
“It’s fantastic that we can bring the parlour to Canary Wharf, which is a vibrant and cosmopolitan area for professionals and locals alike. Drake & Morgan’s philosophy is to continue to provide contemporary customer-focused venues that deliver on cutting-edge design, technology and operating systems as well as quality food and innovative drinks.”

Wahaca – www.wahaca.co.uk

Opens 4 November.

Inspired by the spirit and diversity of Mexico’s bustling markets, Wahaca was born from a love for fresh, honest, Mexican street food. Mexican classics and unusual dishes bursting with vibrant colour and flavour will be amongst a locally sourced and seasonally evolving menu.

The Canary Wharf restaurant will be the third Wahaca to open for founders Mark Selby and Thomasina Miers following successful openings in White City and Covent Garden and hot on the heels of being voted the best Mexican in London by Zagat 2010.

Mark Selby, co-owner of Wahaca said:

“There has been a huge demand over the last few years from customers coming into our two existing restaurants begging for us to open in Canary Wharf.  We have now found the perfect site above ground and with a wonderful view over Canada Square Park. 

“Canary Wharf Group having been voted one of the Sunday Times Best Green companies 2009 is the perfect fit for Wahaca. We look forward to introducing customers to our sustainable, locally sourced and seasonal flavours.”