Rainer Becker, Arjun Waney and Aqua Restaurant Group confirmed for The Shard
Major construction work on the 308-metre-high tower has now been completed with fit-outs of the restaurant spaces expected to kick off very soon ahead of openings in March or April of next year.
All-day dining
The restaurants and bars will occupy 30,000 sq.ft. of space across three of the middle floors of the tower. A separate entrance will take diners in an express lift to a triple-height atrium linking the operators.
Becker and Waney will open a restaurant and bar on the 32nd floor while David Yeo's Aqua Restaurant Group will operate two separate restaurant concepts alongside at least two bars in the space. All the projects are expected to be open for 'all-day dining'.
The other major hospitality operator moving into The Shard next year will be the 195-bedroom Shangri-La hotel on floors 34-52 of the building. The hotel will feature a double-height lobby and 25 suites with enclosed balconies as well as a restaurant, lounge, bar, spa and meeting facilities.
Contemporary
- Becker and Waney will open a 'new dining destination' in the space they have leased. The restaurant will have two different elements - a 'contemporary rotisserie and grill' alongside a live music bar with a lighter menu.
- One of the two restaurants Aqua Restaurant Group will launch is described as 'a first in cuisine style for the London and European market'.
Irvine Sellar, chairman of Sellar Property, which let the spaces on behalf of developers London Bridge Quarter, said: "These top name operators will combine with the best views of London to create a superb and varied restaurant offering within The Shard that will complement the building’s international landmark status and make it one of London’s most exciting food and entertainment destinations."
With chef Rainer Becker, Arjun Waney operates a number of restaurants and hospitality businesses in the UK and internationally including Zuma and Roka. He also re-opened The Arts Club in Mayfair last year.
Hong-Kong-based Aqua Restaurant Group was founded by London-born former banker David Yeo in 2000 and now runs 23 sites across the world including three projects on 240 Regent Street in London - contemporary Japanese Aqua Kyoto, Spanish tapas concept Aqua Nueva and the Aqua Spirit bar.
