A dynamic new food concept developed by Deliveroo’s former MD Dan Warne, has launched in London.
Sessions is a platform for chefs and food founders to scale without requiring the operation intensity and investment of a traditional bricks and mortar business. The concept reinvents the traditional hospitality model by introducing customers to four thriving London chefs and their cuisine for a limited time before rotating the offering. The capital debut follows the success of their 800-capacity flagship venue, Shelter Hall, launched on Brighton’s seafront last year.
Shelter Hall, Brighton
Located on Upper Street, Islington, the new scaled down, 200-capacity London restaurant aims to recreate the Shelter Hall experience by offering customers choice and dynamism in a tech-enabled environment.
At the latest Sessions’ venue, the brand continues its mission to help aspiring food brands access new customers and overcome structural start-up barriers within the industry.
The initial roster includes BBC’s Million Pound Menu’s Jay Morjaria who brings a playful approach to traditional Korean cooking with his small plates brand, Tiger and Rabbit. He is joined by Hasan Semay, AKA Big Has, a talented no-nonsense chef from Jamie Oliver’s 15 program with a growing reputation following the success of his lockdown YouTube cooking series Sunday Sessions. Zoe Adjonyoh, who’s celebration of West African flavours has previously earned her recognition and praise on the London food circuit, is back again with Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen while Richie Hayes and Elliott Kaye - the duo behind classic British cooking brand, Norman’s Cafe - take the final position in the kitchen.
The venue, which has taken over the space left by the now-closed Rodizio Rico, will become the launchpad for the latest chefs - all of whom will be featuring four concurrent menus. As part of its offering, Sessions provides pioneering food brands with menu development, branding, operational, and marketing expertise to champion a new wave of chefs.
Over two hundred guests attended the launch event, which included a panel Q&A with Jimi Famurewa, the Evening Standard’s chief restaurant critic, quizzing the participating chefs and co-founder, Dan Warne.
It was his experience with Deliveroo that made Warne realise the potential of technology-enabled restaurants.
“This is a very different kind of restaurant. We’re trying to help the next generation of founders and champion that talent and give them a stage, giving them a voice, giving them an opportunity to share their wonderful talent with everyone in the neighbourhood and beyond,” Warne said at the event launch.
Sessions is now open at 77 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0NU. Bookings can be made at sessionsmarket.co.uk/
