The pasta-focused restaurant group will open a restaurant in Shoreditch this September in the site of a former bank.
The grade II listed building, originally built in 1868, will be home to an 87-cover restaurant as well as the second iteration of Bar Lina, Lina Stores’ aperitivo bar, located in the basement.
The restaurant has been designed in response to the building’s rich history, preserving many of its original Victorian architecture and features. The timber and mosaic flooring of the banking hall has been restored and walls have been left untouched. Design elements will include marble top tables, plush banquette seating and bespoke opal glass lamps. A Formica bar with oak detailing will sit to the right of the entrance tucked away behind historical timber panels and underneath the original skylight window will be a private dining room for 12 guests.
Bar Lina, which is accessed via a separate entrance, will have a monolithic marble bar that runs throughout the length of the space and will have a dark red colour scheme, exposed brickwork and lighting reminiscent of 1970’s Italy. It will have space for up to 52 guests, with the bank’s original vault having been converted into a semi-private lounge seating 12 guests.
“Very much like Soho, Shoreditch has a rich food history, and the East End welcomed many Italian immigrants over the years. Combined with the stunning architecture of this former banking building, it really did confirm to us that Shoreditch is a perfect home for Lina Stores. We are very excited to also add Bar Lina to what is already a hugely vibrant bar scene.” says Masha Rener, head chef at Lina Stores.
The Shoreditch restaurant follows the opening of Lina Store’s seventh site in South Kensington earlier this year.