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Founders of Aqua and Zuma restaurant empires take on the Shard

Published:  28 August, 2012

The restaurateurs behind global empires Aqua and Zuma will run the dining outlets at western Europe's tallest building, London's Shard tower.

The restaurateurs behind global empires Aqua and Zuma will run the dining outlets at western Europe's tallest building, London's Shard tower.

The restaurants will occupy the Shard's mid levels - between floors 31 to 33 - taking up around 30,000 square feet and including a triple height atrium with views over the City and West End.

David Yeo, founder of Aqua Restaurant Group, who also operates 23 outlets globally including in London, Hong Kong and Beijing, will have floors 31 and 33.

Floor 32 will be operated by business partners Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney - who run London's Zuma and Roka, as well as restaurants in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Miami and Bangkok.

The operators are aiming for an all-day dining feel to the venues, with restaurants open from breakfast until dinner, and staying open late and creating a club feel.


Becker and Waney plan to divide the 32nd floor into a restaurant offering a rotisserie and grill menu and a bar with live music and a lighter menu.

Aqua Restaurant Group, which operates Japanese restaurat Aqua Kyoto and its Spainsh counterpart Aqua Nueva at 240 Regent Street, will run the sites on the 31st and 33rd flooors. The 31st floor restaurant has an atrium with three-storey views of London and the river Thames.

Irvine Sellar, chairman of Sellar Property, who negotiated the deal on behalf of developers London Bridge Quarter, said: "These top name operators will combine with the best views of London to create a superb and varied restaurant offering within The Shard that will complement the building's international landmark status."

The restaurants are expected to open by April 2013.

The Shard will also house the 200 bedroom, five star, Shangri-La hotel.

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