“Social bubble dining” concept launched
Held within an apartment at East London's Town Hall Hotel, APT has been devised by brand consultant Richard Lee Massey as “a new way of getting together with friends in a safe yet stylish environment, whilst also supporting the hospitality industry and allowing chefs to get back to what they love to do.”
“I came up with APT about a month into lockdown,” he says. “The pandemic brought the industry to its knees, so I guess the idea was born from a love for my chef friends and all their restaurants. I was eyeing up restaurant projects pre-lockdown, but even as government guidelines change, the future of restaurants is yet to be determined.”
Guests select a date they would like to get together with their friends and choose a chef or restaurant to cook for them from the list.
I’m excited to take part in the APT because it reminds me of how I started out in this business - cooking for intimate groups of friends and family,” says Ikoyi’s Jeremy Chan. “It’s amazing to be established and have your own restaurant, but in a way I miss the close connection to guests."
“I’m looking forward to the small details, cooking and plating every single dish, seeing the reactions on the guests and developing a rapport. I think this is a wonderful way to revive our industry and regain people’s confidence in dining as well.”
The current list of chefs and restaurants includes:
roster of chefs features some of London’s most exciting talent including:
• Ana & Meng (Tata Eatery/TOU)
• Chris Leach (Manteca)
• Claude Bosi (Bibendum Oyster Bar)
• Claire Ptak (Violet)
• David Carter (Smokestak)
• Helen Graham (Bubala)
• Jackson Boxer (Orasay)
• Jacob Kennedy (Bocca Di Lupo)
• James Cochran (Restaurant 1251)
• Jeremy Chan (Ikoyi)
• John Li (Dumpling Shack)
• Leandro Carreira (The Sea, The Sea)
• Lee Westcott (formerly of Pensons and Typing Room)
• Pophams
• Rafael Cagali (Da Terra)
• Ravinder Bhogal (Jikoni)
• Selin Kiazim (Oklava)
• Shuko Oda (Koya)
• Simon Shand (Corner Room)
• Skye Gyngell (Spring)
• Zaw Mahesh (Lahpet)
• Zoe Adjonyoh (Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen)
