Aramark to open second restaurant in a London hotel

Aramark has struck its second restaurant deal in a London hotel in less than a month.

The restaurant and bar, called Nippon Tuk, opens on 1 March on the 23rd floor of the London Hilton Metropole hotel on Edgware Road.

It is a five-year joint venture between the four-star hotel and Parallel, the hotel and leisure arm of Aramark. It is predicted to have an annual turnover of £1.5m.

The restaurant will specialise in Thai fusion and Oriental cooking, including dishes such as nigiri sushi, sashimi, tempura and noodles, and other specialities such as Thai crab cakes.

Diners are predicted to spend between £30 and £35 a head.

Simon Titchener, managing director of Parallel, said the concept was developed to make more of the high-rise location. "We wanted to make it more of a bar destination with nice food, and this has fantastic panoramic views over London. The only other bar in the hotel is on the ground floor."

Titchener added that the venue, which has been shut since the closure of Aspects Rooftop restaurant at the end of 2001, had tried other types of cuisine.

He said: "We have looked at our market intelligence and reckon that Asian and Oriental food is on the up. The food is simple, it is easy to eat and can be shared with friends and colleagues.

"It's a good location and is something a little bit different, so it could be the start of something new. We might roll out the brand to other areas if it works."

This deal is Aramark's second new restaurant in the capital but, unusually for the caterer, it doesn't involve a big-name chef.

It follows a recent deal with the Crowne Plaza London - The City hotel, to open Italian restaurant Refettorio, also on 1 March, with menus created by Giorgio Locatelli.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 26 February - 3 March 2004