STAYCITY GROUP GAINS popular INDIAN fusion RESTAURANT AT LONDON HEATHROW PROPERTY
Publish date: Mon 18 Nov, 2019Staycity’s 270-apartment London, Heathrow property now boasts its own Indian restaurant, open to guests of Staycity as well as the general public.
Restaurateur Bhupinder Singh (left) and Staycity cluster general manager Ujjwal Chaudhary
Restaurateur and chef Bhupinder Singh has taken a 10-year lease on the 192 square metres restaurant space for the third property in his growing takaa tak chain, which opens in the evenings for modern, Indian fusion food and a full cocktail menu seven nights a week, and from 7am to 10.30am for buffet breakfast.
Staycity guests can access the restaurant and bar internally, although the premises also has its own frontage at street level. After just a few weeks of opening the buffet breakfast is already popular with guests, with nearly 90% taking advantage of the £10, all-you-can-eat offer.
“We are fortunate to have this 80-cover restaurant and kitchen space here at Heathrow, so it made sense to find an outside specialist to operate it, benefitting our Staycity guests as well as the wider community and raising our profile in the area,” commented Ujjwal Chaudhary, Staycity’s cluster general manager for London Heathrow / Deptford / Greenwich.
“I was familiar with takaa tak and was keen to work with Bhupinder Singh. The concept is a great fit with Staycity and we liked its fresh, modern approach to Indian food and focus on healthy dishes, many of which are steamed or oven baked.
“We are in a vibrant area with many businesses in the locality but not many restaurants or bars. Our guests, who tend to be en-route to Heathrow or working nearby, are already making the most of the restaurant and bar and we are also seeing local people and office workers coming in too,” he added.
The aparthotel also boasts Staycity’s first Starbucks concession as well as its own Staycafé concept selling all-day hot and cold snacks.
“The Starbucks and Staycafé attract a lot of commuters and people passing by into the property, giving our reception and lounge area a real buzz,” added Ujjwal.
Dishes on takaa tak’s menu include popular Indian curries alongside Indo-Chinese fusion dishes such as Goan fish coconut curry and pan-seared king prawns with khada masala and bell peppers.
Starters such as chicken dumplings in a tomato and coriander chutney and spiced lamb kebab with coriander, mint, ginger and garlic are available, while vegetable main courses on offer include slow-cooked black lentils and kidney beans (kaali makhni daal) and masaledar amritsari chole, a tangy delicacy of chick peas with onion gravy and coriander.
Prices are typically £5 for a starter and £9 for a main course with average spend at around £18 per head. A takeaway service is also available.
Staycity currently operates nearly 3,000 apartments across 12 European cities. The company has this year opened new outlets in Venice, Mestre; Marne la Vallée at Disneyland Paris; and its second Wilde Aparthotels property in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie. Next month will see a further Wilde open in Edinburgh and early next year it will open a 224-apartment Staycity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
Further property signings have been announced in London, Dublin, Berlin and Frankfurt, amounting to 500 apartments in major UK cities and 850 apartments in Germany.
Staycity Group reported a 2.4% rise in like-for-like sales in the first half of 2019, on the back of a rise in occupancy and average daily rates. Anticipated turnover for 2019 is €81m, up 18% on 2018.
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About Staycity
Award-winning Staycity Group is a privately held company based in Dublin established in 2004 by CEO Tom Walsh and his brother Ger. The company has since become Europe’s leading independent aparthotel operator, offering quality short-term and long-term aparthotel lettings in 12 central city locations across Europe. The properties operate under the Staycity Aparthotels and Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity brands.
Staycity’s properties appeal to both business and leisure travellers who are looking for a more user-friendly, cost-effective alternative to hotels. The apartments are typically made up of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units with 24-hour reception, kitchens or kitchenettes, a dining area, sitting area as well as complimentary Wi-Fi access, guest laundry facilities and weekly housekeeping. Most sites have car parking and many offer a gym, guest lounge and Staycafé selling breakfast, all-day snacks and drinks.
The company’s fast-expanding estate includes properties open in Berlin (48), Birmingham (249 apartments), Dublin (228), Edinburgh (146), Liverpool (268), London (541), Lyon (144), Manchester (182), Marseille (108), Paris (50), Paris Marne-la-Vallée (284, plus 22 villas), Venice Mestre (175), and York (197). Opening soon is a 123-apartment property in Edinburgh and a 224-apartment property in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
In 2018 Staycity won ‘Best Operator’ in the Serviced Apartment News Awards while in 2019 CEO and co-founder Tom Walsh was awarded the accolade ‘Industry Inspiration’ at the same awards as well as being shortlisted for ‘Best Property’ for Wilde on the Strand, and ‘Best Operator’.