Dishoom Secures New Royal Festival Hall Site in South Bank 2026

Key Points

• Dishoom intends to open a new venue for its restaurant on London’s South Bank, in the space left behind by Las Iguanas.
• This will be a corner plot located near the Royal Festival Hall, boasting a large riverside terrace.
• The plans submitted for approval envisage a substantial renovation that will include a retractable roof and verandah to enable terrace use all year round.
• This particular project is part of a larger expansion plan, along with another opening near Borough Market.
• The estimated cost of this renovation could reach £2 million, with completion of the first phase of works anticipated by the end of 2026.

South London (South London News) September 1, 2026 — Hospitality venue operator Dishoom is preparing to expand its footprint in South London after securing a prominent riverside location at the Southbank Centre, taking over a premises formerly occupied by Latin American chain Las Iguanas.

As reported by hospitality publication The Caterer and further confirmed in planning applications submitted to Lambeth Council, the popular Bombay-style restaurant operator has lined up the corner space at the Royal Festival Hall, directly facing the River Thames. The site boasts an extensive outdoor area that Dishoom intends to refurbish thoroughly to maximise year-round dining.

What are the main refurbishment plans for the South Bank site?

According to public planning details submitted to local authorities, Dishoom intends to execute a substantial overhaul of the venue’s exterior features. The plans detail the installation of a verandah structure complete with a retractable roof and openable sides, designed to protect outdoor diners from wet weather while keeping the design visual appearance aligned with the surroundings.

The site proposals also include the addition of structural planters around the exterior perimeter to mark out a clear boundary from the public pedestrian walkway, along with a glazed ramp connecting the outdoor pavilion directly to the interior dining room. The project expenditure for these modifications is estimated at up to £2 million.

When is the new Dishoom location expected to open?

While planning documentation indicates that construction and structural modifications could be finished in late 2026, an official opening date for the public has not yet been confirmed by Dishoom. Observers across the hospitality industry note that full operational launches often follow several months after primary site works conclude, meaning doors may not formally open to guests until 2027.

Furthermore, it remains unconfirmed whether the site will open as a standard, full-fledged Dishoom restaurant or as one of the company’s smaller “Permit Room” bar-cafe spin-off concepts. Further updates on the concept and official schedule are expected to be released later in the year.

How does this move fit into Dishoom’s wider expansion plans?

This announcement marks Dishoom’s second major South London venue in the pipeline. The business is already preparing for a high-profile opening in the Grade II-listed Hop Exchange near Borough Market.

The South Bank acquisition represents the continuous growth of the brand across prime central London real estate. It also signals significant activity at the Southbank Centre, following recent venue announcements from other major restaurant operators such as Caravan, suggesting a wider redevelopment of food and beverage options across the arts complex.

Background of the particular development

Dishoom was founded in 2010 by co-founders Shamil and Kavi Thakrar, inspired by the traditional Irani cafés of old Bombay. Over the past decade, the group has established itself as one of the UK’s most prominent casual dining brands, famous for drawing lengthy queues at its central London locations, including Covent Garden, King’s Cross, and Shoreditch.

The venue being acquired at the Royal Festival Hall was long occupied by Las Iguanas, a Latin American dining chain. The space became available following corporate restructuring across the casual dining sector, which saw several chain locations nationwide consolidated or closed down. The prime position along the South Bank promenade makes it one of the highest-footfall dining spots in North Lambeth, serving millions of tourists, arts patrons, and commuters every year.

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Prediction: How this development can affect local visitors, diners, and the local hospitality economy

The launch of a high-profile restaurant brand at the Royal Festival Hall is poised to impact several distinct groups within the area:

• Local Diners and Tourists: The introduction of Dishoom’s recognizable brand and covered all-weather outdoor terrace will increase dining capacity along the busy riverfront. However, given the brand’s reputation for generating long wait times, visitors to the South Bank may see increased foot traffic and longer queues around the Royal Festival Hall courtyard during peak hours.
• Southbank Centre and Cultural Visitors: Theatregoers and visitors to the Southbank Centre’s concert halls will gain an additional high-capacity dining option before and after evening shows. The all-weather outdoor structure ensures that outdoor seating remains viable during autumn and winter months, keeping the riverside embankment vibrant throughout the year.
• Local Hospitality Businesses: Nearby restaurants and cafes along the Thames Embankment may experience heightened competition for casual dining patrons. Conversely, the arrival of both Dishoom and Caravan is likely to elevate the South Bank’s reputation as a primary culinary destination, driving higher total footfall to the area that could benefit neighboring retail and leisure venues.