Compass Group partners with The Barbican Centre to launch new Lakeside dining experience

18th August 2010, 10:23am

Compass Group UK & Ireland has announced the start of a seven-year partnership with the Barbican Centre that will see them transform the Barbican's Waterside Cafe and Level 1 Balcony Bistro into the Barbican Foodhall and Barbican Lounge respectively.

The new venues, which are due to open in September, promise to offer "a contemporary edge to the iconic Brutalist venue" and so encourage more people to visit The Barbican.

Floor to ceiling displays will be filled with produce such as olives from Olives Et Al, organic oils, award-winning cheeses, chutneys, relishes and pastas, and smoked salmon from the UK producer, Severn & Wye Smokery. Also available will be luxury confectionery from the 'best of British' sweetie inventors, Hope & Green.

Served up on the food stalls will be dishes including cornish pasties with Branston pickle, marjoram infused mackerel, fennel, glazed damsons and goats cheese pie and New Orleans shrimp étouffée. All dishes will be available to eat in or take away.

The restaurant, which seats 200, will feature resident chefs who will create different menus every day, according to season and "what makes their taste buds tingle that morning." Prices will start from £7 for a main course.

The Barbican Lounge upstairs will see designers combine to create a "funky but comfortable" 230-cover space with a 'Prisoner meets Mad Men' feel.

The area will feature mid-century Scandinavian furniture overlooked by light installations by Beirut designers PSLab encapsulated within the stripped fossilised concrete walls of the Barbican.

The bar and restaurant lead out onto a terrace area featuring seating pods interspersed with seasonal plants designed by the winner of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Kate Gould. The terrace runs along the Barbican lakeside, providing views of the complex and London.

The restaurant will feature small plate dining including pork pie and Garlic Farm relish; Lochmuir fishcakes and beetroot tart tatin.

And for the time-poor, a "Dine & dash menu" will be available where guests are promised to be out of the door in less than 50 minutes or get a refund for their meal.

The Barbican Lounge bar will feature "London's first Macaroon mixologist" and see French delicacies twinned with new and traditional cocktails.

Business director for Compass' Leisure Division, Sarah Miller, said: "For us, this provides an unmissable opportunity to showcase the significant work we have been undertaking to understand what our customers want and capitalise on current trends.

"With the new Barbican Foodhall and Barbican Lounge, I believe we have created a fantastic and unique offer, providing visitors with the ultimate foodie experience in a wonderful venue."

Related Articles:

• 02 Sep 2010 - Compass team completes UK's first Advanced Apprenticeship in Facilities Management
• 23 Jul 2010 - Contract caterer Compass scoops two accolades at Brammy Awards
• 20 Jul 2010 - Compass staff cuts affect 'relatively small number'
• 15 Jun 2010 - 'Meet the Grower' recipes from Contract caterer Compass Group achieve red tractor status
• 28 Aug 2009 - Compass revamps ski village restaurant

Click here to submit a comment!

Have your say!

To comment on this article, simply enter your name and email and send us your views. Please note that your comment will appear publicly below this article once it has been processed. For enquiries please email info@costsectorcatering.co.uk.