SSP brings London-inspired flavours to Hithes restaurant at LCY
Hithes restaurant at LCY
SSP Group has opened its latest restaurant concept, Hithes, in the departure lounge of London City Airport (LCY), the eatery takes its name from an old English word for “small port or harbour on a river” and draws inspiration from the former ports along the River Thames, the August 29 press release said.
Hithes is a hybrid of city pub dining and a modern brasserie, serving dishes inspired by London’s food scene, including the Brick Lane chicken thali, the double decker burger, fish and chippy and the Soho salad, complemented by a curated drinks menu of wines, beers, soft drinks and cocktails such as the London Mule, many of which feature local brands.
The menu has been designed to include low carbon footprint dishes, created using ingredient-level insights from SSP’s food sustainability science partner, Klimato. Earlier this year, the restaurant’s concept menu also won the sustainability category of the Midas Awards.
“Hithes is an exciting new concept for us, developed to fuse old and new London at this rapidly expanding airport,” said Cathy Granby, Business Development Director for SSP UK and Ireland. “We know how important it is for customers to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal before a flight without compromising on quality or speed of service. Hithes does just this, with a bespoke menu and full bar, all available through order at the table, where they can relax or work over lunch before boarding.”
Upon entering the restaurant, diners will be immersed in London-inspired designs, including a mural by English artist Edward Bawden and black and white photographs of iconic London food markets. This is contrasted by dark oak panelling and terracotta tiles inspired by Edwardian architecture.
Hithes is part of a seven-year contract extension SSP secured at LCY in 2023.
“We are delighted to unveil our upgraded departure lounge, which builds on our unrivalled customer experience and commitment to providing one of London’s best passenger experiences,” said Alison FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport. “Over the last couple of years, we have taken the opportunity to redevelop our entire proposition, including the roll out of cutting-edge security scanners and now the offer of new restaurants and shopping experiences that celebrate some of the leading brands in our neighbourhood of east London.”
Hithes is SSP’s fourth outlet at LCY, joining Juniper & Co Bar & Brasserie and two Soul & Grains locations which offer “fresh-to-go” food and beverages.
