Located at 45 Aldwych, next to the Novello Theatre in Covent Garden, Lundenwic is a new food and speciality coffee shop from Scotchtails’ founders Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam set to officially open this Friday 7th August at 8am. Furthermore, Dom and Oli will offer a complimentary breakfast/brunch, including a sandwich or salad, drink and dessert, for their first 50 customers when Lundenwic opens its doors this Friday. Lundenwic will serve an all-day menu of fresh salads, sandwiches and toasties, alongside speciality coffees, homemade nut milks and cold-pressed juices, which can be taken away, or enjoyed inside. Young entrepreneurs and university friends Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam, who set up renowned artisan scotch egg company Scotchtails (now available at both Wholefoods and Selfridges Food Hall, and from their weekly market pitch at Borough Market), were inspired to open Lundenwic after a trip to Copenhagen. The style and aesthetics of the Nordic cafés and small restaurants they visited, and the focus on design quality impressed the duo so much they decided to bring the same philosophy to London, and so the idea for Lundenwic was born. Named after one of the original Anglo-Saxon settlements in the capital back in the 5th century, Dom and Oli hope to introduce a space where Londoners and visitors to the capital alike can enjoy good quality food and coffee from breakfast through to early evening, Monday through to Saturday.
The all-day menu at Lundenwic will offer creative, honest and healthy food with an emphasis on provenance and the use of quality and locally-sourced ingredients, all made in-house where possible. Dom and Oli have worked closely with young chef Matt Shea, who comes with experience working at B.O.B’s Lobster and Salon Brixton, to develop a vibrant menu, using only the best produce to create bold flavour combinations. Open from 7am through to 7pm six days a week, Lundenwic will offer several breakfast options; from freshly made porridge served with a choice of inventive toppings such as ‘Marmalade, cocoa nibs, hazelnut & honey’ and ‘Fig, chia seed & agave syrup’ (from £4), to fresh pastries and home-made granola bars (from £2).
The lunch menu, served from midday, will offer a selection of seasonal freshly made gluten free salads such as ‘Courgette, asparagus, kohlrabi, peas, curd & red chilli’, ‘Roast butternut squash, chickpea, fennel & pomegranate’ and‘Pickled peach, green beans, feta & hazelnut’. Salad options can be enjoyed on their own or mix-and-matched as a box of four (from £6). Sandwiches will also be a staple lunchtime offering, made with fresh sourdough bread and available with several different fillings including ‘Jerk chicken, red cabbage & lime ailoi’ and ‘Smoked mackerel, beetroot & horseradish’, along with vegetarian options such as ‘Butternut squash, chickpeas with preserved lemons & chermoula’ (from £4). For a more warming lunch, Lundenwic will offer a select range of toasted sandwiches, pairing classic fillings with more modern flavours such as ‘Beer braised onions, kale & Montgomery cheddar’ and the boy’s own take on a ‘Reuben’ using in-house brined beef brisket (from £5). Sweet treats will include freshly baked ‘Pecan pie’ and the indulgent ‘Flourless chocolate cake’, or one of Dom and Oli’s homemade ‘Cherry & almond slice’ (all from £2.50).
Along with its food, Lundenwic will take great pride in its coffee offering, serving Workshop espresso blends. The resident Ethiopian ‘Cult of Done’ espresso blend will be joined by a monthly-changing single-origin guest espresso. Lundenwic’s head of coffee will be Stan Przemek, who comes with experience gained at Flat White, Milk Bar and TAP Coffee. Dom and Oli have also collaborated with London-based producer Mae + Harvey to create an exclusive selection of bottled nut milks including ‘Classic almond milk’, along with ‘Cashew, date & vanilla’ and ‘Peanut milk’. As well as this, Lundenwic will serve a selection of cold-pressed juices made fresh in-house each day, in combinations such as ‘Pineapple, cucumber, lime & mint’ and ‘Kale, spinach, apple, lemon & parsley’ (from £3.50).
Reflecting Dom and Oli’s original inspiration for Lundenwic, the café interiors have a distinct Scandinavian feel, with a focus on simplicity, functionality and minimalism and the use of natural light. The duo worked on the design of the space themselves, preserving the building’s rich architectural history, exposing the original brick walls and making use of the historic high ceilings of what was once the entrance to the next door theatre. Whitewashed walls will be complimented by a muted marble countertop and provide a neutral canvas on which the colourful food will be the star. The importance of quality design and materials can be seen throughout the café, with stools handcrafted from Cornish Ash by young British designer, Felix McCormack, who has cleverly used squid ink to create a striking and unique colour effect. Elegant Anglepoise pendant lights will illuminate the counter area, ensuring that Lundenwic will offer a stylish yet functional space.
Lundenwic food and specialty coffee shop will open from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday from Friday 7th August, at 45 Aldwych, Covent Garden.
The first 50 customers through the doors on Friday 7th August will receive a complimentary breakfast/brunch, which includes a sandwich or salad, drink and dessert.
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