Composer and legendary musical theatre figure Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that he is set to open a new London restaurant at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in partnership with restaurateur Richard Caring, the man behind the Caprice Holdings group.
The as-yet-unnamed restaurant will open its doors in autumn 2020, taking up residence on Catherine Street in an adjoining building to Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The theatre is currently undergoing a £60 million restoration project, which as well as the new restaurant, will also see the introduction of new bars, and the reconstruction of the stage facilities and dressing rooms. The auditorium will also be reconfigured so that plays can be performed in both the traditional proscenium arch and in the round.
Richard Caring is the man behind The Ivy Collection
Little else is known about the restaurant so far, including what the interiors will look like and what cuisine it will serve. Richard Caring is the founder of Caprice Holdings, the restaurant group which is responsible for huge names on London’s restaurant scene, including the ever-expanding Ivy Collection, as well as Scott’s, J Sheekey and Sexy Fish.
Speaking about the partnership, Lloyd Webber said: “I am delighted to announce this partnership with Richard Caring and Caprice Holdings. Richard is a brilliant restauranteur and showman, both of which are essential to ensuring the theatre will continue to be a vibrant part of Covent Garden life. He is behind many of the country's most loved and entertaining restaurants, making it a perfect match to our ambitious project at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I’m thrilled to be working together.”
The Caprice Holdings group includes famous seafood restaurant Scott's
Once the restoration project has finished, the theatre will be open to the general public throughout the day. Visitors will be able to try out the restaurants and bars, enjoy afternoon tea and watch performances both in the afternoon and evening.
This isn’t the only reason Caprice Holdings has been in the news of late. Recently, restaurant critic Jay Rayner revealed he scattered his parent’s ashes at The Ivy.