Major coup for Queen Street dining quarter
Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc (‘Aviva’) confirmed today that Lebanese restaurant Comptoir Libanais, will be the seventh restaurant to join Exeter's exciting new Queen St dining quarter.
In signing up Comptoir Libanais, this announcement from Aviva Investors is being heralded as another major coup for Queen St dining, Exeter and the South West.
The hugely popular Comptoir Libanais, has twelve restaurants in the UK, eight of which are in central London, will be located on the corner of the newly re-modelled Market Square and St Pancras Square and will cover just under 3,300 sq. ft of Queen St dining including outside seating space.
Comptoir Libanais specialises in fresh, healthy and affordable Lebanese dishes, from lamb kofta and shish taouk cooked on a charcoal grill to wholesome and hearty slow-cooked tagines. Open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner to eat in or take out, the beautiful souk-like interiors of their canteen and delicatessens have a buzzy, Middle Eastern café feel. Decorative ceramic tiles are a feature of Comptoir Libanais restaurants and all feature the face of the Arabic actress, Sirine Jamal al Dine on the walls, menus and takeaway packaging.
Chaker Hanna, CEO of Comptoir Libanais said: “We are delighted to be opening our first restaurant in The West Country. Queen St is such an amazing development in a thriving city. We are working closely with Aviva Investors to create a restaurant to showcase the best of Lebanese cuisine to the local community, businesses and families as well as the millions of visitors to Exeter from the UK and afar at very affordable prices.”
Tony Kitous, Founder & Creative Director of Comptoir Libanais added: “We cannot wait to open in Exeter – it’s so exciting to be spreading the food, culture and hospitality of Lebanon to such an amazing and invigorating city. Our cuisine is healthy, fresh and colourful and has been created for everyone including families and vegetarians. We look forward to opening our doors to lots of mezze-lovers!”
Aviva has attracted a wide variety of top quality food and drink operators to Queen St dining, to create 'the place' to eat, drink and socialise in Exeter day or night. Anticipation among city residents and visitors continues to grow as regeneration of the buildings and public spaces begin to reveal themselves to the public.
Simon Green, Director of Aviva Investors said: “Aviva Investors is thrilled to be able to bring Comptoir Libanais to join us at Queen St dining. Adding Lebanese cuisine to the mix brings something totally unique to the Dining Quarter and their prominent position overlooking two of our new public spaces provides the perfect location for this incredibly popular and exciting restaurant.
Comptoir Libanais welcome everybody through their doors and it won't be long now before city diners get the chance to enjoy the flavours of the Middle East at Queen St Dining.”
The new open air spaces designed especially for food events, markets and entertainment along with all eight restaurants which make up Queen St Dining will be fully open by the end of August.
Comptoir Libanais join Turtle Bay, The Stable, Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), The Terrace, Grillstock and KuPP the final remaining restaurant to be revealed by Aviva imminently.
The Queen St project is seeing the Guildhall Shopping Centre’s neo-classical façade on Queen Street transformed, a new entrance from the high street is underway and the three public spaces within the centre itself are being re-invented: Market Square, bordered by amphitheatre-style seating areas, St Pancras Square overlooking the beautiful 13th-Century St Pancras Church and Goldsmith Square, making them all more welcoming and attractive to shoppers and diners alike.
For further information about Comptoir Libanais visit www.comptoirlibanais.com / for more information about the Queen St redevelopment, please visit: www.queenst-exeter.com
