Shaftesbury Capital has announced a series of new restaurants, bakeries and dessert concepts set to join Covent Garden.
The new additions include a central London first for community-focused bakery Sourdough Sophia and a new contemporary French restaurant, Cassette.
The signings further strengthen Covent Garden’s food and beverage offer across the wider neighbourhood and Seven Dials.
Leading the new additions is Sourdough Sophia, which has signed for a 450 sq ft unit at 16 Neal’s Yard.
The community-focused bakery will join F&B and chef-led concepts including The Barbary, Story Cellar and the recently opened Buvette.
The Neal’s Yard opening will be Sourdough Sophia’s first central London site, showcasing its range of sourdough bread and laminated pastries.
Following expansion across the capital, supported by a successful community crowdfunding campaign, the bakery continues to build around values of community and connection.
Its offer is rooted in sustainable quality ingredients, artisanal techniques and an evolving menu.
A second restaurant from the team behind Peckham favourites Levan and Bar Levan is also set to open this autumn.
Cassette will occupy a 1,170 sq ft space at 42 Maiden Lane.
Led by Head Chef Essa Fakhry, formerly of Note in Dublin and Planque in London, the restaurant will bring a contemporary French dining concept to the Grade II listed building.
The restaurant will enhance Covent Garden’s international dining offer with a menu rooted in modern French cooking and Parisian energy.
Named in homage to the founders’ long-standing connection to music, Cassette will build on the success of Levan while introducing a new dining experience to Covent Garden.
Soft Serve Society will open its flagship Soft Serve Cafe at a second London location in an 850 sq ft space at 33 Earlham Street.
The larger footprint will enable the brand to create a more immersive in-store experience, with additional seating and a designed environment that brings its distinctive aesthetic to life.
Known for inventive soft-serve creations, Soft Serve Society will strengthen the dessert offer within Seven Dials.
Guests can expect signature sundaes and baked desserts paired with soft serve ice cream, alongside a dedicated tiramisu vending machine, branded merchandise and further additions.
At 25 New Row, Brazilian brand OAKBERRY Açai has selected Covent Garden for its seventh London store.
The 380 sq ft site will offer customisable, organic açai bowls and smoothies.
The brand has built global recognition for its organic and vegan-certified bowls, positioning itself as a healthy on-the-go option across the city.
Completing the five is Carmy’s, a new pizza-by-the-slice concept which has now opened its 820 sq ft site at 1 Monmouth Street.
Located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, Carmy’s provides a gateway into the Seven Dials neighbourhood.
Emma Matus, Head of Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “This year has been a strong one for us in terms of F&B leasing, and it’s fantastic to see that momentum continue with another exceptional group of independent operators choosing Covent Garden and its Seven Dials neighbourhood.
“What sets Covent Garden apart is the calibre and diversity of our offer, and it’s this unique ecosystem that continues to attract the industry’s most exciting operators, reinforcing our position as London’s leading destination for world-class dining and hospitality.”
Sophia Handschuh, Co-Founder at Sourdough Sophia, added: “When I started this business in lockdown, I could never have imagined that I would end up here, with a store of my own in one of the most iconic locations in the world.
“We’re very proud to have built our presence around London, and this moment feels extra special, marrying up with a place that has such a widespread appeal with a real community feel.”
Mark Gurney, Founder of Cassette, said: “I’ve grown up travelling to France every year for family holidays, and over the last ten years both Matt and I have built lasting friendships with so many people in its hospitality scene.
“Cassette is, in many ways, a homage to that journey and those people.”
The announcement follows another recent wave of F&B concepts set to join the Covent Garden neighbourhood this year.
These include JUNK Burger and Puffy Cookies at New Row, and a second location for Frothee at 29 Bedfordbury.
Elia, the modern Mediterranean restaurant, has also opened its first site in the lower level of Covent Garden’s historic Market Building, while Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern is set to open next week.
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