Ford-McDonald plans restaurant at Oxo Tower

Dominic Ford, former director of Harvey Nichols's food and retail division, is returning to London's Oxo Tower, but this time on the second floor.

Ford and partner Pat McDonald have leased half of the second floor and plan to launch Tamesas, a 100-seat brasserie-café and 50-seat bar targeting tourists and local workers. It will open on 27 April.

Oxo Tower's second floor was formerly home to Richard Sawyer's River Walk restaurant and before that, Richard Neat's eponymous brasserie and fine-dining eaterie. Both restaurants closed within a year.

"Tamesas will be more of a spur-of-the-moment restaurant than destination like Harvey Nichols's restaurant upstairs," said Ford. "It will be very affordable and child-friendly." Average spend is expected to be £20 for lunch and £30 for dinner, including drinks.

The business is a joint venture between The Ford-McDonald Consultancy and the Oxo Tower. Head chef will be New Zealander David Schofield and restaurant manager will be Graham Monkton, formerly of Le Cercle and Harvey Nichols.

Profile: The Ford McDonald Consultancy >>

By Jessica Gunn

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