The Athenian tees up London Bridge launch
The site, which was announced last summer, had been due to open earlier this year, but was delayed as a result of the Government-mandated lockdown of the hospitality sector caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Continuing its tradition for naming each site after a vibrant Athens neighbourhood, the new London Bridge restaurant will be called 'Mikrolimano' after a district in Piraeus, and its 'distinctive design' will be inspired by a typical Greek urban market stall.
The new site will operate in accordance with Government guidelines, and will include QR code digital menus and iPads; and be fully equipped with hand sanitiser and marked out social distancing areas.
It comes as the group also continues to explore new local markets through a delivery-only expansion strategy pivoted around the use of Deliveroo Editions kitchens.
Having opened its first Editions unit in London’s Battersea back in February, The Athenian has subsequently gone one to establish similar outposts in Brighton, Manchester and Reading respectively - marking the brand’s first ventures outside of the capital - while the lockdown has been ongoing.
Though the Reading site has subsequently closed, the group is continuing to explore the delivery-only space and is preparing to open another Deliveroo Editions site next week, in Leeds.
Speaking to BigHospitality back in April, Athenian co-founder Neo Christodoulou said the dark kitchen strategy was not about maximising profit, but looking at the opportunities available to the business going forward.
He said: “We’re treating it like a mapping exercise, looking at how these kitchens fare, with a view to potentially establishing bricks and mortar sites further down the line.
“Operationally, it could prove to be a very beneficial approach, as we would already have begun establishing a pool of staff to train others and manage the sites as and when we open them."
