tashas set for its debut in the UK’s capital in November
South African’s visiting the UK’s capital this festive season and beyond can now add a visit to the much-loved tashas to their itinerary. A brand new location will open this November at Battersea Power Station, London’s exciting new riverside neighbourhood.
While the tashas concept has been adapted to suit the local UK market, it retains the heart and soul of the tashas birthplace and foundation – South Africa. The 4,000-square-foot site sits on Prospect Way and has been designed by Founder and CEO, Natasha Sideris, and design studio Verhaal. It will be an updated, reminiscent version of the original tashas location in Atholl, Johannesburg that opened 18 years ago.
“We are thrilled to be opening at Battersea Power Station as our first UK location. At tashas, we are passionate about curating memorable moments with great food in beautiful environments. We can’t wait to bring the tashas brand of hospitality to London,” says Natasha.
The décor
tashas Battersea has been designed to give guests the feeling of sitting inside a cappuccino – dark timber envelops the base of the store, followed by high gloss textured stucco walls and it is finished off with a delicate paper installation, by Elonah O’Neil, which mimics the foam. Marble, timber and brass have been used extensively throughout the space – from the intricate mosaic tiles on the floor, to the delicious chocolate-coloured timber on the walls. The interiors will feature also work from contemporary South African designers and artisans including, Elonah O’Neil and Bronze Age.
The food
“We’ve kept the “fan favourites” but have done extensive research to make sure that we have aligned to key factors and influences that are in the UK,” Jill Okkers, Culinary Director for the Group, explains. “As our first store in this market, we’re making sure we serve what our customers love, but also dishes that will likely become their new classics.”
The menu will feature beautiful, fresh salads including the Quinoa Beetroot and the Texas Salad as well as a Healthy Appetites section that features the Berry Fluff with Chia Pudding and a Matcha Green Blast. New dishes that have been created include Sweet Toast, a classic play on a Bostock with homemade almond paste, apricot jam and spiced syrup-soaked brioche or, for later in the day, try the Cornflake Pork Schnitzel – a cut of pork loin, coated in cornflakes and fried – served with a creamy potato salad and fresh slaw. Of course, many of the classic dishes that tashas has become famous for will also be on the menu.
The entirely new drinks menu, developed by the team’s Beverage Director, Krystian Hordejuk and features a selection of matcha-based drinks, healthy smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, mocktails and cocktails.
tashas Battersea Power Station will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
tashas has grown over the past 18 years from one restaurant in Atholl (which opened on 15 September 2005) to 15 locations in South Africa as well as Le Parc by tashas in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. The international group, Tashas Group, has 10 hospitality concepts under its umbrella with locations in the UAE and more recently in Saudi Arabia.
Built on the philosophy of beautiful food served in elegant environments with engaging service, tashas is known for its warm and laid-back approach, and for serving unpretentious, generous comfort food in stylish settings. Every tashas venue is unique in its own way, with its own distinctive style inspired by a place or a time, reflected in both the menus and the design of each individual location.
tashas is also excited to announce that they will be opening new locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg in the coming year. “South Africa remains the heart and soul of tashas and we are excited about opening these new locations,” says Natasha.
