Key Points
- Dishoom, popular Bombay-style restaurant chain, is reportedly set to launch an entirely new restaurant on the South Bank of London, taking over the existing building of Las Iguanas adjacent to Royal Festival Hall.
- Details revealed through planning documents filed by the Mumbai-style hospitality firm indicate that the new restaurant is planned to undergo substantial renovation involving outdoor and structural works.
- Planned changes to the structure include installation of a sleek verandah structure with a retractable roof and side panels over the existing outdoor space to facilitate its use year-round.
- Additionally, the proposed development will involve creation of surrounding planters to provide a clear demarcation from the pavement and also a glass bridge connecting the pavilion to the main building.
- Subject to approval of the proposal by local councils, the development will cost up to £2 million and be completed by October 10. Official launch of the restaurant is yet to be announced.
- This development comes hot on the heels of Dishoom’s announcement about a new location to be opened at the listed Hop Exchange in Borough, making it its eight London-based and twelfth worldwide location.
London (The Londoner News) August 28, 2026 – For many Londoners and tourists navigating the capital’s bustling culinary scene, enduring lengthy queues has become practically synonymous with dining out, ranking right alongside catching a ride on the underground tube network. Patrons across the city routinely find themselves waiting for up to an hour at established branches such as King’s Cross and Covent Garden just to secure a table and sample the brand’s signature biryanis, bhel, and bhaji. However, for those who prefer to bypass the infamous waiting times, relief is on the horizon as the much-loved Bombay-style hospitality group expands its footprint with yet another strategic location.
What are the details of Dishoom’s new South Bank location?
According to planning documents reviewed by media outlets, the expanding Mumbai-inspired chain is set to take over the prominent site formerly occupied by Las Iguanas, situated directly next to the iconic Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank. As reported by contributing writer Amy Houghton of Time Out London, official planning applications submitted to Lambeth Council outline the company’s intentions to heavily modify the existing space to align with its signature aesthetic and operational requirements.
The transition of the prominent riverside venue signifies another major milestone for the restaurant group, which has steadily grown its presence across the United Kingdom since first capturing the public imagination with its nostalgic homage to the old Irani cafés of Bombay. The takeover of the former Latin American-themed restaurant site places the brand right into one of London’s most heavily foot-trafficked cultural and tourist hubs, promising river views and heightened accessibility for diners seeking an alternative to the crowded central London branches.
What changes are proposed in the planning application to Lambeth Council?
The documentation lodged with local planning authorities details a series of comprehensive architectural and structural interventions designed to modernise and optimise the venue. As detailed by Amy Houghton of Time Out London, the proposals indicate that “Dishoom’s application includes a proposal to erect a verandah structure with a retractable roof and openable sides over an existing outdoor seating area, to make it ‘sleeker’ and allow it to be usable all year round”.
In addition to the all-weather verandah development, the architectural plans incorporate measures to manage crowd flow and perimeter aesthetics effectively. As reported by Time Out London journalist Amy Houghton, “There’ll be planters wrapping around the area to give it a clear boundary and separate it from pedestrians”. Furthermore, the operational blueprints reveal structural connectivity upgrades; as noted by Amy Houghton of Time Out London, “Dishoom is also seeking permission to install a glazed ramp to link the pavilion to the main restaurant”. These modifications collectively point toward a high-end, seamless indoor-outdoor dining experience tailored to the variable British weather.
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When is the development expected to be completed and open?
While the regulatory approval process is still underway, preliminary timelines outlined in the project proposals suggest a swift turnaround should the local council give the green light. As reported by Time Out London through journalist Amy Houghton,
“If approved, the development is expected to cost up to £2m and be complete by October 10 this year”.
Despite the tight construction schedule targeted for completion by mid-October, prospective diners will need to exercise patience regarding when they can finally sit down for a meal. As highlighted by Amy Houghton of Time Out London, “However, it’s not yet clear when a new Dishoom could actually open for business”. Final health and safety checks, interior fit-outs, staff recruitment, and training phases will likely dictate the official launch date following the completion of structural works.
How does this expansion fit into Dishoom’s wider growth strategy?
The revelation of the South Bank project arrives hot on the heels of other major real estate moves by the hospitality group, signaling aggressive yet calculated brand expansion within the competitive capital market. Putting the South Bank project into perspective within the company’s broader trajectory, Amy Houghton of Time Out London reported that “The new outpost comes not long after Dishoom revealed it would be opening another branch at the Grade II-listed Hop Exchange in Borough”.
The continuous scaling of the business demonstrates sustained consumer demand for high-end casual Indian dining despite broader economic headwinds facing the hospitality sector. With the addition of the upcoming venue at the historic Hop Exchange alongside the newly planned South Bank site, the company continues to cement its dominance across London’s culinary landscape. As noted in the reporting by Time Out London journalist Amy Houghton, the Borough development will officially cement its status as “its eighth London restaurant and 12th overall”, highlighting a robust multi-site portfolio that stretches well beyond the capital into other major UK cities.
As local residents, urban planners, and food enthusiasts await Lambeth Council’s formal verdict on the South Bank proposals, the momentum behind Dishoom’s expansion shows no signs of slowing down. Whether the upcoming £2 million redevelopment will successfully alleviate the notorious queues that have defined the brand’s early London venues remains to be seen, but the promise of an all-weather riverside terrace near the Royal Festival Hall is certain to be welcomed by the capital’s diners.
