House cured salmon pastrami, toasted rye and smoked creme fraiche (credit Milly Fletcher)
Design Restaurant by Social Pantry to open in March at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
Design Restaurant by Social Pantry, an exciting new partnership with Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, is opening in March 2022 and will launch to coincide with London Design Week 2022, 14 -18 March.
Design Restaurant by Social Pantry will be located in the Design Avenue, a stunning architectural space at the heart of the world’s premier design destination. Flooded with natural light, it will be open throughout the day, from Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm. Social Pantry will also take over the running of the existing Dome Café.
The relaxed and stylish restaurant will bring something new to the renowned interior design hub. An all-day dining menu offers everything from a healthy breakfast to informal lunches - all brought to the table by the friendly team. Everything will be prepared on site with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients and frequently changing menus.
Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour is the first port of call for professional designers, architects and design enthusiasts. The Design Restaurant by Social Pantry is just steps away from 120 international showrooms, making it the perfect place for destination dining during a day of sourcing. Whether a first-time or seasoned visitor, you can make time to catch up with friends, colleagues and clients in the convivial space or pull up a stool at the bar.
Passionate about the future of food and the farmers who feed us, founder and CEO Alex Head is mindful that Social Pantry makes a meaningful impact through food and the new menu at the Design Restaurant reflects this. Fresh and simple with British and Mediterranean influences, it celebrates seasonal organic vegetables and fruits, a minimal use of red meat and a focus on conscious consumption. Social Pantry works closely with a small and carefully considered group of famers, suppliers, and producers, who mirror its values and ethos towards sustainable farming, eating and zero waste. The menus will follow the seasons closely, welcoming forced rhubarb and wild garlic in March, followed by British asparagus in April before the peas, broad beans, and early salads in Spring.
Sample highlights from the launch menu include Social Pantry granola, The Estate Dairy organic yogurt and compote; Turkish eggs and Lincolnshire poacher for breakfast. For lunch, choose from starters such as torched mackerel Caesar, with strozzapreti, artichoke pesto, pea and broad bean to follow. For pudding, there is forced rhubarb and hibiscus custard tart and Neal’s Yard cheese British plate with zero waste chutney.
A great deal of time is spent at Social Pantry committing to circular economies, zero waste initiatives and menus are designed with this in mind, incorporating nose to tail and root to flower dishes.
The wine list has been thoughtfully curated by Liberty Wines who share Social Pantry’s focus to help curb the effects of climate change, protect our vineyards and ensure the sustainability of the global wine industry. They recently became the only ‘carbon neutral plus’ UK wine supplier – offsetting more emissions than the business generates to achieve a positive environmental impact.
Supporting and championing several charitable causes, Social Pantry works closely with initiatives that connect with their values and only work with producers who follow good practice through farming, fishing, rearing, handling and producing. Collaborators include Natoora, Shrub Provisions, The Estate Dairy, Pump Street Chocolate and Toast Beer.
Alex Head, Founder and CEO of Social Pantry comments, “I’m very excited about the partnership between Social Pantry and Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. We share many of the same values for craftsmanship and striving for excellence and we hope Design Restaurant by Social Pantry will be a destination dining experience for those wanting brilliant food and drink in the prestigious and globally recognised design centre.”
Claire German, CEO of Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour says, “we’re thrilled to be working with such a dynamic company as Social Pantry whose boundless enthusiasm, commitment to sustainability and passion for provenance is key to their core values. The permanent restaurant marks the next step in the Design Centre’s expansion, offering more reasons for visitors to spend time here. As beautiful as the designs within the showrooms, every aspect has been conceived to create the ultimate environment. The Design Restaurant by Social Pantry will be an essential ingredient of the experience, gathering people together around good food.”
-ends-
For more information about Design Restaurant by Social Pantry, interview opportunities with Alex Head or images, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361
Notes to Editors
Address: Design Avenue, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, Lots Road, London SW10 0XE
Website: Design Restaurant by Social Pantry at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour (dcch.co.uk)
Social: @social_pantry #bysocialpantry
About Social Pantry
Founded by Alex Head in 2011, Social Pantry is London’s go-to caterer for seasonal, creative and delicious food, delivering events with a social conscience, at some of London’s most prestigious venues, including Battersea Arts Centre, Central St Martins, The Serpentine and Woolwich Works. Since 2013 Social Pantry has also launched restaurant and café locations across London, beginning with Social Pantry Café on Lavender Hill in Battersea and Crane’s Kitchen, a contemporary Café Restaurant in Peckham attached to the South London Gallery, and now the launch of Design Restaurant by Social Pantry at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.
Founder Alex works closely with charities and enterprises that connect with the values of Social Pantry. Since 2015, Alex has been an ambassador for Key4Life, a young ex-offender’s charity who help rehabilitate ex-offenders and break the cycle of re-offending. Social Pantry offers personal mentoring, hospitality training and job opportunities to ex-offenders assisting with their rehabilitation and helping to equip them with new skills. Ten per cent of Social Pantry’s current workforce is made up of former offenders. Social Pantry also work with Bad Boys bakery, a social enterprise inside HM Prison Brixton, and Redemption Roasters, a coffee-roasters, based inside prisons, to supply goods across their locations.
@social_pantry | www.socialpantry.co.uk
About Alex Head- Founder & CEO of Social Pantry
Alex Head is the founder and CEO of Social Pantry. Social Pantry makes a meaningful impact through food and Alex works closely with charities and enterprises that naturally connect with the values of the company; offering mentoring, hospitality training and employment opportunities to young ex-offenders, assisting with their rehabilitation and equipping them with the skills they need to succeed; Alex is a proud to be the leader in ex-offender employment within the hospitality industry. Social Pantry is opening a training kitchen & café inside HMP Feltham in April 2022.
@alexhead_sp | www.alexhead.co.uk
Sustainability
Social Pantry is on a mission to become the first zero-waste caterer and in 2021 recruited Nash Gierak to the team as Sustainability Consultant. Nash’s role is to review all parts of Social Pantry, from zero waste menus to sourcing in the supply chain, to becoming single use plastic free.
Social conscience
Social Pantry is committed to creating fair opportunities for people who are skilled and able to work. During a time in which the hospitality industry is struggling for staff, it makes sense to reduce the unnecessary exclusion of capable candidates. Removing barriers to employment can bring diverse talent and essential skills into the UK workforce.
In 2021 Social Pantry was recognised as an accredited Ban the Box employer, which means the tick box that asks about criminal convictions has been removed from job application forms.
Social Pantry was one of the first 15 companies awarded the Key4 Life YOUNITED kitemark flag, for businesses which hire ex-offenders. Key4Life is a crime prevention charity which encourages companies to employ ex-offenders and give them another chance.