Shaftesbury Capital has announced that Ladurée, the luxury French pâtisserie brand, has opened a new space for tea and haute cuisine above its flagship store in Covent Garden. Located on the corner of the historic Market Building, the expanded tearoom overlooks the West Piazza, increasing the brand’s footprint in this iconic heritage setting. Ladurée’s expansion is the latest in a series of refurbishments by brands at the destination, reflecting Shaftesbury Capital’s commitment to investing in its portfolio of operators and retailers.
The design of the new space combines Ladurée’s French heritage with the store’s British setting, inspired by the Versailles Hall of Mirrors and classic English manor houses. The walls are painted in Ladurée’s signature green, with pale wood touches and cut-glass mirrors. The Baroque-inspired ceiling features an intricate gold design and chandeliers, complemented by a polished checkerboard-style marble floor.
With room for 36 additional guests, Ladurée’s expanded space offers a fresh take on its classic afternoon tea. Developed by chef Julian Alvarez, the new tea menu features a blend of Anglo-French cuisine, including finger sandwiches, fresh scones, miniature patisseries such as Plaisir Sucré and Ispahan, and Ladurée’s iconic macarons. Beverages include vintage champagne and a variety of teas. In the evening, the restaurant serves revisited classics like its signature Vol-au-Vent, scallops with Jerusalem artichoke, and a beef Wellington special.
The new tearoom, situated behind Ladurée’s salon de thé and terraces, takes advantage of the brand’s prime location in the historic Market Building. This expansion underscores Shaftesbury Capital’s strong brand partnerships and continued investment in its portfolio, enhancing Covent Garden’s appeal with unique, high-quality concepts.
Mélanie Carron, Group CEO of Maison Ladurée, commented: “Our talented design team has truly excelled themselves with the opening of the new Tea Room in Covent Garden’s iconic Market Building. Through this transformative journey, we have remained dedicated to preserving the intrinsic details and craftsmanship of the original building, accentuated with beautiful textiles and French details that define our brand of heritage and ‘art de vivre’. The menu marks another exciting step for Ladurée, moving forward into the foray of London’s dynamic food scene, and we hope to join the ranks of celebrated French eateries that London is welcoming with such open arms.”
The news of Ladurée’s expansion follows the recent announcement that EL&N Deli & Bakery, a fresh concept from the world-famous café and lifestyle brand EL&N, will also be launching in Covent Garden’s historic Market Building in July.
