Chinese hot pot chain opens second London restaurant

China’s ‘biggest hot pot restaurant brand’ has launched its second European site at The O2 in London.

Hai Di Lao Hot Pot, which was founded in Sichuan Province in 1994, has opened its second London restaurant – following on from its 2019 opening in the Trocadero Centre.

The restaurant chain serves authentic Chinese hot-pot style cuisine with meat, vegetables, and noodles with broth soup bases.

A Hai Di Lao Hot Pot spokesperson commented: “It’s exciting to be opening our doors at such an iconic London location which shares our ambition for rapid and ambitious growth. We look forward to getting to know more of our UK customers and delivering our second-to-none hot pot experience.”

It is one of 30 restaurants in the O2 food and beverage hub and can host 212 covers.

The opening of Hai Di Lao comes in the same month when several O2 attractions are due to reopen for the first time since lockdown was announced in March.

Marion Dillon, leasing director for Icon Outlet and the O2, commented: “Hai Di Lao Hot Pot is a fantastic addition to have as we gradually welcome back visitors to our 360-degree experience at the O2 [which] provides the sense of theatre and sociability which the public have missed during lockdown.”