EAST WEST GOES EAST
We did it. We opened a second restaurant! After six years in Tufnell Park - some of which were quite turbulent, what with opening during a global pandemic and all - we found ourselves at a really good stage. We thought we’d shake things up a bit and put an offer in on a new site for our second branch. This time heading East to Shoreditch.
It felt risky. The restaurant that rented the site before us had failed in six months. Not a great sign to be honest. And it was double the size of our Tufnell Park restaurant. It was definitely on my mind whether we’d be able to fill it Wednesday - Sunday. But looking beyond the neon signs, the AI-generated artwork and the bright yellow tiling in the bathroom that made me want to punch the wall, I saw potential for a great space. So we went for it.
We got the keys at the start of March 2026 and set to work. Working with Neill Chauhan, founder of design consultancy Void + Volume, we designed the space to echo the cosy, neighbourhood vibes of Tufnell Park, but with an edge that suited the Shoreditch area.
"The design of a restaurant is less about how a space looks and more about how it feels the moment you walk in. East West is a great brief for that reason, there’s already so much to work with, two cultures, two culinary traditions, one room. We wanted it to feel like it had always been there, but with something to say. Shoreditch gave us the creative freedom to push that a little further. I think we got it right."
- Neill Chauhan, founder of design consultancy, Void + Volume
Indian and Italian influences in the space were crucial and so I sourced odd bits and bobs from all over - from quirky antique stores down nearby Columbia Road to ornaments from India and of course the odd IKEA plant. As you can see from the before and after photographs, we didn’t have too much to do structurally, but aesthetically we honed in on the details, the colours, the textures and created a space that feels comfortable and welcoming to our customers.
Whilst I say there wasn’t much to do structurally, I’m perhaps trying to forget that our kitchen suppliers actually cancelled on us two weeks before the soft launch, leaving us with no pizza oven or working kitchen. Luckily, we were able to source a new supplier and team to get this done in time, but not without opening with a temporary bar and plumbing that wasn’t quite ready. Turns out I can do a bit of plumbing myself!
The build was a real team effort, our chefs and front-of-house team were chipping in wherever they could and without chef Mirza stepping in to get the kitchen ready on the day of the soft launch, things would not have run so smoothly.
It’s not just my team I need to thank, but you lot. The support of our customers, our friends, our family and anyone who has sent a message of congratulations, has meant a lot. We are very grateful.
The space is big and we’re excited to test its potential. We also have a wooden-pannelled room downstairs that’s giving speakeasy vibes. We know there’s an interest in events - maybe games nights, maybe live music or comedy. We’re exploring chef series and supper clubs. So, watch this space and get in touch if you have any suggestions!
Until then, give us a follow on socials and sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest at East West.
Devinder Singh, Founder of East West
