Opening alongside these two flagship brands are Beer + Burger, fish specialist Hook, Mexican format Benito’s Hat, wings specialist Thunderbird and Indian concept Scarlet.
The O2 is already home to rather more established and mainstream restaurant brands including Harvester, ASK Italian, Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s, so the introduction of less ubiquitous operators represents a significant change of approach for the sprawling south east London venue.
The new openings will take the total number of bars and restaurants at the Greenwich-based venue - which is overseen by US-based entertainment giant AEG and UK market focused private real estate investment company Crosstree Real Estate Partners - to 34.
The focus on F&B follows the opening of ICON Outlet, a 210,000 sq ft “premium urban outlet” development.
Hai Di Lao is China’s biggest hot pot restaurant chain with around 310 locations worldwide. It is expected to open its debut UK restaurant at The Trocadero in Piccadilly Circus next month. Its The O2 site will open in May and will be the largest restaurant in the development at 8,200 sq ft plus a 2,800 sq ft mezzanine.
By Chloe is also going large with a 5,400 sq ft restaurant that will feature a 1,500 sq ft external garden oasis. The New York-founded brand currently has two UK sites, one in Covent Garden and one relatively close to the O2 within the One Tower Bridge Development.
“These latest additions bring an exciting food theatre to our existing food and beverage line-up at The O2, and together with the retail offer from ICON Outlet create an unrivalled and trend-led destination for our customers,” says leasing director for ICON Outlet and The O2 Marion Dillon.
“Located just minutes from central London, the destination places an emphasis on customer experience, with brands deliberately chosen that will appeal to visitors in pursuit of engaging and inspiring retail and dining offers.”
Davis Coffer Lyons and Lunson Mitchenall are the F&B leasing agents for The O2. Richard Thomas now of Fleurets represented Hai Di Lao.