Randy’s Wing Bar to open at Here East development

16-May-2016 - Last updated on 17-May-2016 at 13:28 GMT

Richard Thacker and Andy Watts will open their first permanent site - Randy's Wing Bar - this month

Randy’s Wing Bar, the pop-up chicken wing concept, has become the latest operator to confirm its opening in the Canalside area of Hackney’s Here East development.

The business, created by friends Richard Thacker and Andy Watts, will join other restaurants The Breakfast Club, Italian trattoria Gotto and Shane’s on Canalside at the new development, based in the former Press and Broadcast Centres on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Randy’s Wing Bar at Here East will be the first permanent site for the duo, who started cooking their chicken wings at pop-ups, festivals and events in London three years ago. It will open on 21 May.

Menu

The restaurant's menu will centre around five styles of wings, which take inspiration from different world cuisines and are priced at £7.50 for eight. They include North American Buffalo (fried and tossed in a spicy Buffalo sauce with truffle blue cheese) and Bombay (marinated in Indian spices, oven baked, robata grilled and served with raita).

Chicken burgers and a vegetarian burger will also feature with sides, including chicken liver popcorn with cumin and lime Southwest mayo, Furious Fries with feta and Buffalo sauce and a sumac summer salad also available. Craft beers and a limited wine list will also be served alongside a selection of cocktails and soft drinks.

The 70-cover site will feature an industrial look with steampunk lighting and industrial-style lamps hanging over the eight-seater bar and banquettes made from reclaimed wood.

Wings taking flight

Thacker, the son of a Norfolk chicken farmer, said chicken wings were the new burgers with potential for them to grow in popularity further so provided an ideal focus for his and Watts' restaurant.

"We've seen wings grow in popularity over the last three years, thanks a lot to do with the growth in popularity of American cuisine and street food," he said. "There is no reason why wings can't be as big as beef burgers. It's the most tasty and entertaining part of the chicken, and perfect for sharing plates to enjoy with friends. The chicken has been waiting for the day when their motive for crossing the road, does not get questioned. That day has now come."

He said Canalside, the retail area of the Here East development, provided the ideal location for their first permanent site.

"Most our trade and pop ups have been focused in and around Hackney over the last three years," he said. "People of Hackney are really supportive of new food concepts and really open minded which makes it the perfect place to launch a new bar restaurant.

"At the moment our focus is on opening the current restaurant and once settled we will be happy to consider a second location, if the perfect site arises."