Covent Garden ups its gastronomic game

Covent Garden London has announced a major overhaul of its dining offer, with the promise of two large-scale, upmarket restaurant openings in 2011.

Following the recent announcement that Caprice Holdings will open a branch of New York’s famous Balthazar in the Covent Garden Flower Cellars, it has now been revealed that the prime site on the north side of the piazza, currently occupied by Ponti’s, will begin redevelopment from early April.

Covent Garden London has indicated that the majority of the 6,000 square foot unit will be turned into “an exciting new dining concept”, while the remaining space will be turned into two new retail units.

This move marks the latest stage in the area’s regeneration, which during the past two years has seen the arrival of Le Pain Quotidien, Battersea Pie Station and, later this spring, Ladurée.

In all, 60% of the site’s food units have been turned over during this period as part of owner Capco’s aim to transform their estate into “a world-class retail and dining destination.”

Beyond the immediate confines of the estate itself, the Covent Garden area has emerged as a hub for much of the exciting new restaurants to open in London recently.

With Terroirs and Les Deux Salons now established on the south west corner, last month the south east side saw the arrival of Opera Tavern, the latest addition to the Salt Yard stable.

Gabriel Savage, 15.02.2011