Aqua debuts first Italian dining bakery concept, Luci, in The Yards, Covent Garden

Longmartin Properties Ltd, a joint venture between Shaftesbury Capital and the Mercers’ Company, has announced that Aqua Restaurant Group has launched Luci, London’s first Italian Dining Bakery, at 136 Long Acre. This opening marks a key addition to The Yards’ portfolio of authentic and high-quality operators, strengthening its position as a key dining destination in the heart of Covent Garden.

Delivering a day-to-night offer spread across two floors, the 9,000 sq ft dining bakery mirrors the heritage of grand Milanese cafes. The ground floor features an 18 metre-long ‘bancone’ which showcases an assortment of Italian goods throughout the day, such as thin focaccia Genovese, ciabatta, and wood-fired pizza by the slice, alongside homemade gelato, sorbet, and cakes, all available for dine-in or takeaway. The first floor offers an intimate dining space for guests with up to 96 covers, where an array of Italian classics can be enjoyed, such as melanzane parmigiana, lasagne, and wood-fired pizzas, all using fresh seasonal produce. The venue has been designed by Robert Angell and Aqua Restaurant Group founder David Yeo, combining the spirit of London with the sunshine of Italy.

Headed up by Chef Andrea Pesenti, Luci delivers an affordable all-day Italian dining concept for visitors, enriching the F&B offer within The Yards. Luci joins a range of independent restaurants within The Yards such as Olea Social, the modern Mediterranean restaurant, Gura Gura, the innovative pan-Asian concept, and Lahpet, one of London’s only Burmese restaurants, reinforcing The Yards’ position as a go-to dining destination within the heart of the West End.

On behalf of Longmartin Properties Ltd, Simon Taylor, Property Director at The Mercers’ Company, also said: “This is a significant moment for The Yards as we welcome one of the most acclaimed restaurant groups to our portfolio. With a varied and diverse offer of intimate dining and grab-and-go, Luci delivers something new and distinctive to our destination, catering to office workers, families, couples, and more. As The Yards nears leasing completion, we are proud of how the community has developed and evolved over the last few years, and with the recent opening of Luci, it highlights how we are continuing to attract the very best of F&B in the industry and provide an unmatched dining offer in the West End.”