Article: David Styles | Image: © London Transport Museum
A new cafe bar overlooking Covent Garden Piazza has been opened by London Transport Museum.
Run by high street restaurant chain Benugo, the new concession is part of the Museum’s ongoing efforts to attract new audiences and maximise income from visitors to one of London’s tourist hotspots.
Canteen, named after the static and mobile canteens that used to cater for London Transport workers in the mid 20th century, will offer an all-day menu of British dishes. Cocktails paying tribute to London’s transport network – such as the Elizabeth Line and the Routemaster – will also be served in the new outlet.
The transport theme does not end at the bottom of a cocktail glass, however. The restaurant’s interior has been designed to give a heavy nod to the iconic aesthetic of London Transport’s poster artwork and Tube maps, along with incorporating reclaimed signs, tiles and original seats.
Light fittings that were planned for but never installed at Embankment station, wooden benches found in the basements of Wembley Park and Gloucester Road stations, and salvaged luggage racks from 1960s decommissioned A stock trains all connect the catering unit to the content of the Museum.
Canteen is accessible to the public whether or not they visit the Museum, and is open from 09:30 to 19:30 from Wednesday to Saturday and 09:30 to 18:30 Sunday to Tuesday.