The 80-cover, 1,073 sq ft site is based in the Old Post Office on Station Approach, and will be open as an all-day brasserie during the day, before becoming a night-time dining room and bar in the evenings.
The opening comes as the group also announces plans to launch its own farm in The Chilterns next year, where it will grow herbs, vegetables and fruit to help stock their café and restaurant sites.
Executive chef James Brown – who has restaurant experience in London and Manchester ‒ has recently joined the group to oversee the new menu with ‘partner-in-food’ Moran Etedegi, who started his career training in Israel, and has worked with Israeli chef Yotam Ottolengi.
At Antipodea, Brown is set to bring new international-inspired dishes, focusing on wood-fired pizzas, robata grill dishes, daily bakes, and seasonal options. Typical options will include ‘Indo-Pacific barramundi’ with miso mash, Asian dashi-butter infused vegetables, and whisky and maple cured pork chop and wood-fired lobster.
Vegetarian options will include Bengali aubergine and tofu salad with cavolo nero, plus pomegranate jewels and roasted spices; while desserts will include homemade cakes, and mini dessert pots such as traditional banoffee pie, and poached pear and ginger crumble. There will also be familiar classics from Brew’s existing café food menu.
The drinks option includes a small wine list, freshly-made juices and smoothies, and a range of Brew coffees, alongside original cocktails such as the Hairy Canary, made with yellow tomato juice from the Isle of Wight.
Retail options
A retail section of the space will offer ‘Home Brew’ products to buy and finish cooking at home, including lobster risotto and lasagne. There will also be a selection of breads and brioche to buy, alongside bacon, ham and chorizo.
The Brew café group was first founded in 2009 by Australian entrepreneur Jason Wells, aiming to bring Melbourne-inspired coffee and dining to Londoners. It currently operates sites in Wimbledon, Clapham, Putney, Wandsworth, and Chiswick.
The sale of the Kew Gardens site was advised by leisure specialists Restaurant Property.
David Rawlinson, founder and agency director at Restaurant Property, said: “I am sure that the residents of Kew will be thrilled that Brew Cafe’s new venture Antipodea have chosen to open in their area. The group have a fantastic reputation for serving real, honest and delicious value.”