Two dining brands sign for The Royal Exchange

The City of London’s The Royal Exchange has announced the signing of two new dining brands, as Empanada specialist Chango and The Salad Kitchen both sign 10-year leases for units on Threadneedle Street.

The new arrivals highlight increased demand for restaurant space at The Royal Exchange as the scheme benefits from higher footfall as well as new public realm around the building. The City of London Corporation’s “All Change At Bank” project is creating new public space, including al fresco dining, along Threadneedle Street outside The Royal Exchange.

Chango and The Salad Kitchen will join existing operators at The Royal Exchange including The Libertine and Fortnum & Mason, as well as Des Gunewardena’s upcoming venture in the scheme’s mezzanine area later this year. The new lettings follow long-term commitments from luxury retail brands including Tiffany & Co., Bremont, Aspinal of London, Omega, Montblanc and Hermès.

Andrew Hilston, managing director of The Ardent Companies UK, said: “The public realm upgrades on Threadneedle Street are changing the face of The Royal Exchange’s external space, enabling outside dining and further enhancing what is rapidly becoming one of the City’s leading social destinations. The arrival of Chango and The Salad Kitchen, alongside our existing bars and restaurants, highlights the growing demand for dining options in the area as visitor numbers to both The Royal Exchange and the wider Square Mile continue to increase.”

The Royal Exchange’s retail element was acquired by US-based real estate investment and asset management firm The Ardent Companies in October 2022. Since the acquisition, The Ardent Companies UK, along with asset manager Pave, has implemented a new leasing strategy and refreshed the advisory team, appointing agents at Bruce Gillingham Pollard and Savills.