Ikea opens first standalone UK restaurant

Swedish retailer Ikea has launched its first standalone restaurant next door to its store in London’s Hammersmith.

The space, formerly a Wasabi restaurant, has been revamped to seat 75 diners and serve a range of Swedish dishes.

Shoppers will be able to order plates of the group’s famous meatballs (£5.50) alongside dishes such as fish and chips (£6.95) and penne pasta with tomato sauce (£2.95).

Early morning options include a six-piece cooked breakfast for £2.75 or a nine-piece breakfast for £3.75.

Ikea features canteen-style restaurants in its large retail stores but this is the first time it has launched a standalone dining space on the UK high street.

“We know how much our customers love the Ikea restaurant and we’re excited to celebrate the opening of our very first high street restaurant,” said Matthew Gould, market manager at Ikea London City. 

“Fans of our delicious dishes can recharge during their shopping trip with our famous Swedish meatballs, pop in for a traditional Swedish ‘fika’ break for coffee and a sweet treat, or find an affordable meal for the kids right on the high street.”

The launch comes as Ikea looks to expand across the UK to become accessible to more shoppers. Over 100 mobile pick-up points have been launched in Tesco stores across the UK, with a further 100 planned.

Two new stores are due to open in the former Topshop store on London’s Oxford Street and in Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre.