Premier Hospitality

Westminster Kitchen

Westminster Kitchen
Written by Roma Publications

Westminster Kitchen

Westminster Kitchen

A brand new and exciting venue known as Westminster Kitchen has been unveiled in the Southbank from renowned London restaurateur Ibrahim Dogus. Following an extensive refurbishment and build Westminster Kitchen opened its doors in July in the heart of one of London’s most central and lively locations.

Owner Ibrahim Dogus, who owns the famous Troia restaurant, commented:

“I’m incredibly excited to be opening my next London restaurant in such an exciting, central part of the city. Over the past ten years I’ve seen the area transform into a true destination. Yet Westminster Kitchen offers something that the area is lacking, a warm, welcoming venue with a great vibe that delivers both the modern and traditional London.”

Situated just off Westminster Bridge on Belvedere Road, Westminster Kitchen is a large, modern British restaurant and bar concept with 110 covers, offering a diverse menu including classics through to more contemporary options such as Roasted Cornish salmon fillet on a tartare potato cake and Warm tartlet of asparagus, ceps mushrooms & dolcelate cheese. Also, there is a wide selection of English meats and sustainably sourced fish.

The interiors were fashioned by successful practice Dover Design whose previous work includes Café Boubier in South Kensington and Benito’s Hat in Farringdon. Jon Dover MD described the look of the interior as “an upscale dining room, with grand horseshoe booths, a wide theatre kitchen and long bar. It will offer locals, Londoners and visitors to the city a buzzy and contemporary eclectic British eatery.”

Premier Hospitality caught up with Lauren McGoldrick, Senior Designer at Dover Design, who commented:

“I believe that the feedback has been very good and the managers on site have said that the venue has been really busy. I heard that they are turning over 400 covers a day!

“We started working on Westminster Kitchen in March 2016 and we went onsite at the end of May. It was all finalised in July before it was revealed to the public. It was a very quick turnaround from start to finish.”

A sign in the ground floor restaurant reads ‘Grill House’, above a space that offers delicious meats and meaty dishes for all to try. A fantastic feature, the charcoal grill within the kitchen adds that desirable smoky taste to all kinds of meat and fish on the menu.

Providing a great sense of theatre to the space, the open kitchen is the focal feature drawing in attention from customers. Diners can sit and watch their food be prepared by the talented team of chefs, undertaking a sensory experience as they watch, hear and smell the fresh ingredients being cooked to perfection right in front of their very eyes.

Walking into the attractive stone building, customers enter at a higher level and take a few steps down to the open restaurant, with a vibrant atmosphere and a lively buzz about the space. A small bar is to the right hand side as customers walk in, and high tables placed along the windows to offer a view outside, taking up the entire left hand side. A stunning feature wall is on display to the back of the room, with large horseshoe leather booths offering the ideal spot for parties and celebrations.

Westminster Kitchen

Eclectic furniture adorns the space, including a variety of table tops including stone, zinc and timber, and different coloured upholstery.

The space encompasses many traditional features but with an added industrial touch, created by the exposed ductwork, feature brick wall and rustic timber cladding. A gantry over the bar and kitchen displays edgy steel mesh emphasising the industrial effect.

Lauren added:

“We weren’t permitted to make any changes to the shopfront however we installed brand new signage to the exterior of the building.

“It was a very quick turnaround, we were only onsite for five weeks in total and that included a strip out. It was previously a Yo! Sushi so there was a lot to strip out and alter before it became what it is now. Originally we considered putting in a mezzanine level however this brought some challenges and therefore this delayed us a little. However we are very happy with the result now and we think that a mezzanine may have made the space a little crowded.

“It’s exciting to be working with an independent restauranteur. We do work with a lot of branded chain restaurants which we enjoy however it is nice to do something different. We were able to develop the brand with the client and it was something new so it was fantastic and very enjoyable.”

A&D Design

Having been in operation for six years, A&D Design specialises in the installation of full mechanical services, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing services, in the industrial, commercial and retail sectors, including production of EPC’s and building BREAM reports.

Projects that A&D Design have delivered include Young’s Brewery Projects, Ed’s Easy Diners, Big Easy Diner at London, Everyman Cinemas, Leon T2 Heathrow Airport.

Premier Hospitality spoke with Kevin Brimley, of A&D Design, to find out more information on the establishment. Kevin commented:

“Working on Westminster Kitchen, we carried out the design of the ventilation (canopy extract systems), air conditioning and plumbing services.

“We have established a good friendship and successful working relationship with Ibrahim over the last four years and would not have missed the opportunity to have been involved in this new exciting Restaurant venture.

“As a company we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver quality mechanical and electrical services design and project management from project conception through to completion.”

KBS Midlands Ltd

KBS Midlands Ltd specialises in the installation of full mechanical services, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing services for the industrial, commercial and retail sectors. The company also delivers more specialist client requirements such as local exhaust ventilation, close control systems and process systems etc.

Established ten years ago, KBS has worked on projects including Ed’s Easy Diners, Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines, Nova Laboratories, Intelligent Energy, Vivien Westwood and Tossed.

Premier Hospitality caught up with Kevin Brimley, of KBS Midlands Ltd, to find out more information on the establishment and its involvements with Westminster Kitchen. Kevin said:

“We carried out the installation of ventilation (canopy extract systems), air conditioning and plumbing services.

“It is important to be involved with this project as it is a prestigious contract in the heart of London for a respected and prominent independent restaurateur who has a strong future in the business moving forward.”

Kevin added:

“As a company we pride ourselves in providing a first rate service to our clients and achieving project completion on time, within budget, resulting in a fully operational system and satisfied client.”

Dover & Dickens

Dover & Dickens specialise in complete project solutions providing a bespoke, turnkey design and build service including all procurement and management of a client’s FF&E and direct contractors. The company was incorporated earlier this year, when the decision was made to combine the talents of Dover Design and NCD Shopfitters into a single offer and continue to go from strength-to-strength.

Dover & Dickens have over ten years’ experience with major clients such as Prezzo, Zizzi, The Restaurant Group and Ed’s Easy Diner. They produce excellent work in demanding environments like airports, railway hubs and high end shopping centres nationwide and most recently have been involved with Westminster Kitchen at County Hall, London.

Westminster Kitchen was Dover & Dickens’ second restaurant for Ibrahim Dogus. Working on the project, Dover & Dickens designed, built, project managed and cost controlled the scheme.

Jon Dover, Dover & Dickens, said:

“Our client wanted to add a British-style restaurant to his existing Mediterranean venues, something bridging both the traditional and on-trend – a place that would attract local Westminster office workers and politicos and the high number of tourists in the area.

“Taking over a minimal concrete and blockwork shell, we gave it a warm timber parquet floor, exposed brick and rugged timber wall panelling. We left all the services exposed and added sparkle and glamour with our lighting scheme and rich crimson palette.

“Anchored by a backdrop of grand circular booths, the mixed styles of the tables and chairs contributed to the relaxed casual atmosphere where diners can enjoy great food and drinks over a price ranging from the popular to the indulgent!

“The open kitchen occupies one whole side of the room, providing theatre and action in Westminster’s latest offering.”

Jon added:

“It’s important to us that we fully understand, appreciate and develop our client’s brief as we continue to strengthen our long term relationship with this ambitious and industrious businessman.”

Dover & Dickens pride themselves on quality in both design and delivery – they hand over on time, on budget and ready to trade!

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