Independent pub group picks Covent Garden for newest venue

Ardent Pub Group has signed for a new venue, ‘The Magpie’, at Shaftesbury Capital’s Covent Garden estate in London.

The independent pub group – which operates The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea, The George in Fitzrovia, and The Hound in Chiswick – will take a 5,000 sq ft space at 142 Shaftesbury Avenue.

The venue will span across three floors and serve 140 covers, joining a number of food and beverage operators at Covent Garden. The signing follows the recent openings of Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern, Burro by Conor Gadd in Floral Court, and Buvette by Jody Williams in Neal’s Yard. Casette has also signed for a space on Maiden Lane.

The opening of The Magpie forms part of Ardent’s growth programme which is backed by strong trading, with over 25% year-on-year sales growth and a 40% year-on-year uplift in group EBITDA, as it targets new openings across London and beyond over the next three to five years.

Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “I’m excited about The Magpie because there’s such a personal story behind it. Dom’s family connection to the pub and the wider Soho neighbourhood gives a real sense of authenticity, while his ambition to create the kind of London pub that brings everyone together feels particularly right for this location, where Covent Garden, Soho and theatreland meet. Ardent have a fantastic track record of creating much-loved pubs, and bringing ambitious independent operators like them to Covent Garden is an important part of how we continue to evolve the neighbourhood while retaining the character that makes it so special.”