D&D London set to open first UK site

D&D London, formerly Conran Restaurants, are to develop its first UK site outside of London in the Cube, the final phase of development of Birmingham’s Mailbox.

The Cube is expected to be completed by 2010 and was designed by Gherkin architect Ken Shuttleworth. It will include a complex of restaurants, bars, private rooms and gardens will include a 12,000sq ft rooftop space for D&D London with the interior designed by Conran & Partners.

Construction of the Cube will expand the existing Mailbox site by a total of 500,000sq ft with a 25-storey building that will be 70m high. The existing Mailbox already includes a Malmaison hotel and restaurants such as La Tasca and Santa Fe.

Des Gunewardena, chairman and chief executive of D&D London said: “I think that the Cube will be a wonderful landmark building for Birmingham and I hope that we can create restaurants that are as exciting as the space that they will occupy.”

D&D London was formed by the acquisition of a 49% state in Conran restaurants by Gunewardena, managing director David Loewi and financial backers HBoS. They operate sites in London, Paris, New York, Copenhagen and have recently opened in Tokyo.

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By Christopher Walton