The Dorchester to run first pop-up restaurant at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The Dorchester will be serving its afternoon tea outside of its Hyde Park Corner location for the first time in its 75-year history through a pop-up restaurant at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. 

While the luxury London hotel has enjoyed links with the annual show by serving a dedicated afternoon tea in its tea lounge The Promenade for a week every year, it is taking the partnership a step forward this year by running a dedicated restaurant on-site. 

From 24 to 28 May visitors to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be offered a £60 Afternoon Tea created by the hotel's head pastry chef David Girard. The on-site restaurant, which is designed to 'evoke the heritage and glamour of The Promenade', will also feature floral displays created by the hotel's florist Philip Hammond. 

"Chelsea Flower Show has always been a special week at the hotel with our dedicated afternoon tea served in The Promenade but this year will be significant as for the first time we will have the chance to be at the show serving our bespoke creations to a wider audience," said Girard. 

Target market

The Dorchester food and beverage manager Nigel Sandiford told BigHospitality he'd taken up the opportunity to serve The Dorchester's  fternoon Tea at the show itself this year as a key way to reach the hotel's target market.  

"We’re looking to generate awareness of our new afternoon tea among a significant demographic with the intention to drive bookings to The Promenade at The Dorchester," he said. "It's not that it is important however for us, it’s a fun way of keeping the hotel current and on the radar for potential new guests."

As well as its pop-up at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show the hotel's The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant will return to food festival Taste London again this summer.