Five new F&B brands to land at Shaftesbury Capital’s Covent Garden

Shaftesbury Capital has announced that a series of new restaurants, bakeries and dessert concepts are set to join the Covent Garden neighbourhood, including a central London first for community-focused bakery Sourdough Sophia, and a brand new contemporary French restaurant, Cassette, further strengthening the destination’s market-leading F&B offer.

Leading the quintet is Sourdough Sophia, the community-focused bakery concept, which has signed for a 450 sq ft unit at 16 Neal’s Yard. Joining top-quality F&B and chef-led concepts, Sourdough Sophia’s new location will be its first central London site, showcasing its range of sourdough bread and laminated pastries. Since its huge popularity and expansion across the capital, aided by a highly successful community crowdfunding campaign, Sourdough Sophia retains its core values, rooted in community and connection, by committing to sustainable quality ingredients, artisanal techniques, and an innovative menu which constantly evolves.

A second restaurant from the team behind Peckham favourites Levan and Bar Levan is set to open this autumn in 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, Cassette will bring a contemporary French dining concept to the historic Grade II listed building. The restaurant will enhance Covent Garden’s line-up of international cuisine with a menu rooted in modern French cooking with a Parisian energy. Named in homage to the founders’ long-standing connection to music, Cassette will build on the success of Levan while introducing a distinctly new dining experience to Covent Garden.

Soft Serve Society is set to 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 thoughtfully designed environment that brings its distinctive aesthetic to life. Best known for its Instagrammable, inventive and over-the-top soft-serve creations, Soft Serve Society will enhance the dessert offering within the Seven Dials neighbourhood. Guests can expect a menu featuring signature sundaes and baked desserts paired with soft serve ice cream, alongside a dedicated tiramisu vending machine, an exclusive range of branded merchandise and more.

Over at 25 New Row, Brazilian brand OAKBERRY Açai has selected Covent Garden to open its seventh store in London, boasting its customisable, organic açai bowls and smoothies in a 380 sq ft space. OAKBERRY Açai has garnered global success with its organic and vegan-certified bowls, becoming a popular healthy on-the-go option across the city.

Rounding off the five is the debut of Carmy’s, which has now opened its 820 sq ft site at 1 Monmouth Street. The brand-new pizza-by-the-slice concept is located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, providing a key gateway into the Seven Dials neighbourhood.

Emma Matus, Head of Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “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, also 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.”