Spitalfields Canteen restaurant to open at Festival Hall

Canteen will open at the newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall in June, facing directly onto Belvedere Road.

Prior to the concert hall's closure for refurbishment the space was occupied by the Festival Square Cafe operated by Digby Trout Restaurants.

The informal 260 cover restaurant will offer booth seating, communal tables, covered and heated outdoor seating and a bar celebrating the best of British beers.

"Both the Royal Festival Hall and the 1951 Festival of Britain were direct influences for Canteen – democratic, welcoming and elegant," say Canteen's founders Cass Titcombe, Dominic Lake and Patrick Clayton-Malone.

"To be part of one of London's most iconic buildings is very exciting for us."

Like the original Spitalfields restaurant, Canteen's South Bank branch will offer an all-day menu serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and bar snacks.

Canteen claims to source as much produce as possible from within the UK to minimise 'food miles'.

The announcement of Canteen's arrival at the RFH follows the news of D&D London's new Skylon restaurant which will occupy the area previously used by the People's Palace restaurant.