Company of Cooks to open Riverside Terrace Café

Mike Lucy, founder of Company of Cooks and Caper Green companies, has agreed terms to open the Riverside Terrace Café and eight bars in the renovated Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank at the end of May.

Under the Company of Cooks banner, Lucy plans to "open a quick service operation that will complement Conran's new restaurant"

(which will be called ‘Skylon' after the large sculptor on the site at the time of the Festival of Britain) said Lucy.

"It will be light, stylish eating throughout the day and evening. We'll be more Donna Hay than Delia Smith," he said, adding, "We had to find our own style separate to the branded outlets such as EAT and Wagamama along the South Bank."

The café will serve food in the whole foyer, the idea being that customers can have a coffee or a full meal, Lucy said, adding, "It will fulfil the needs of concert-going audiences in the style of a grand café."

Company of Cooks will also be looking after the Royal Festival Hall's Central Bar and seven supplementary bars. The deal is subject to contract.

The firm manages the Roundhouse and historic buildings, such as Kenwood House's food and beverage operations, while Caper Green oversees the catering at a number of Royal Parks, including Greenwich and Regent's Parks' Garden Café.