Bombay café expansion marks start of £8m Covent Garden transformation

Real estate firm Longmartin Properties Ltd has announced the expansion of Bombay café concept Dishoom in Covent Garden.

Located at 11-12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Indian eatery Dishoom will undergo a redesign to mark the restaurant’s 10th anniversary, including an expansion into the neighbouring former Jamie’s Italian unit.

Dishoom first opened in Covent Garden in 2010 inspired by Bombay’s Irani café concept, and now has five cafés in London as well as Edinburgh and Manchester.

Plans for the extended venue include a new ‘terrace colonnade’ style dining area, sculptured two-floor seating and a covered outdoor space.

The expansion of the café, which is expected to be completed in 2020, marks the beginning of a wider £8m refurbishment of St Martin’s Courtyard, situated in the heart of Covent Garden.

Longmartin Properties Ltd, a joint venture between Shaftesbury and The Mercers’ Company, aims to transform the area into an ‘urban oasis’, and recently launched the nearby Arbour building on 143 Long Acre comprising 4,000 sq ft of retail space and 7,600 sq ft of offices.

Commenting on behalf of Longmartin Properties Ltd, Charles Owen, portfolio executive at Shaftesbury, said: “We are entering a very exciting period for St Martin’s Courtyard.

“Ten years on Dishoom remains a much-loved eatery and its expansion will not only mark a new beginning for the restaurant, but also the courtyard itself.

“The timely investment for St Martin’s Courtyard will deliver an even more inviting and engaging destination, combining new brands and a new look with the high-performing existing offer to create one of the most appealing areas in London’s West End.”

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