Our Story

Our story at D&D London is deeply rooted in the vision of Sir Terence Conran. Over the years this vision has grown into a collection of diverse restaurants, bars, and hotel, in global iconic locations spanning London, Manchester, Birmingham, Paris and New York. Together, they form a brand that celebrates excellence in hospitality, creativity and the enduring power of great design.

Sir Terence Conran, a trailblazer in British design and culture, transformed the way people live and dine in Britain. His first foray into hospitality started with Soup Kitchen (1953), this was later followed by our legendary restaurants including Pont de la Tour in Shad Thames (1991), the royalty and celebrity haunt Quaglino’s in St James (1993), Chelsea’s Bluebird and Orrery in Marylebone (1997), Alcazar in Paris (1998) and Guastavino’s in New York (1999). These restaurants changed the landscape of the dining scene in London (and beyond), becoming synonymous with innovative cuisine, elegant design, unparalleled hospitality, and democratizing the eating out experience. Conran’s influence extended beyond the realms of hospitality, and with the founding of the Design Museum, Habitat and Mothercare, he solidified his impact on British culture.

The collection began to grow with: German Gymnasium, the former home of the German Gymnastics Society who hosted London’s first indoor Olympic games (2015), and award-winning South Place Hotel housing the Michelin-starred Angler (2012), together with expansion to Manchester, New York. Our most recent opening, Orelle in Birmingham (2022), won Restaurant of the Year 2023 at the Birmingham Awards.

From revitalising old buildings, to breathing new life into historic venues in world-class cities, the DNA of our brand embodies Conran’s spirit of innovation and Loewi’s commitment to excellence, making D&D the brand it is today.