Tourism & Hospitality | Monday 16 March, 2015 12:32 pm |

– Retro Feasts, the collaborative diner launched by British entrepreneurs Luke Thomas and Mark Fuller, has made its debut in Dubai at THE BEACH opposite JBR.

A food-and-drink concept inspired by childhood favourites, cleverly revitalised to appeal to today’s diverse social crowd, Retro Feasts gained popularity as a pop-up concept in London’s famous Mayfair district. The Dubai outlet marks the diner’s first permanent residence.

A live cookery demonstration served as the highlight of the launch event where Britain’s youngest head chef Luke Thomas rustled up some tasty treats inspired by British street food and shared tips and tricks with guests.
Speaking at the launch, Luke Thomas said: “We’ve gone back to our roots with this one - whether you grew up in the 90’s as I did or the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s, I hope you will love the spirit of nostalgia we have managed to recreate at Retro Feasts. We all have memories of our favorite childhood food. For me, this is simply a medley of all those favorites. We wanted to create a fun, alternative way of eating by the beach and I believe there is a little something to delight everyone at Retro Feasts - “… whether you are a gourmet foodie or someone that just loves good, simple food, done well”

Located under the arches within the caterpillar pods at THE BEACH, the décor is playful with guests entering via a traditional red telephone box. Expect a casual, friendly setting that includes white brick-work tiling, bespoke vintage wall coverings and iconic artwork. A bright colour pallet of rust red, navy blue and sunny yellow all combine with minimalist, mixed furnishings to bring back nostalgic memories from Britain in the 70’s and 80’s.

The menu is infused with selections from the golden age of British cookery. Available throughout the day are classic dishes from the region such as King Prawn Cocktail, Popcorn Chicken, Mac n’Cheese, Coronation Chicken Salad, Fish Finger Sandwich & Retro Burger, all reasonably priced and available in child-sized portions as well. Puddings follow perfectly with the likes of Eton Mess, Chocolate Brownies and even the iconic Knickerbocker Glory in a pot!

Beverages compliment the food with milk-shakes, traditional tipples and imaginative mocktails to quench all thirsts.

This 60-cover venue provides counter top ordering with takeout facilities while an old-school foosball table and a retro playlist make up the entertainment elements at the diner. Located right on the beach with superfast Wi-Fi adding that modern convenience, Retro Feasts is set to prove a hit with residents and tourists alike.

Retro Feasts creator Luke Thomas added “We’ve come up with a menu full of the guilty pleasures that British people grew up with and still love to eat - even though they may not often admit to it! It’s going to be a lot of fun and very tongue-in-cheek, all of these remain great dishes people remember fondly. Most of them are not even served in restaurants anymore because they fell out of fashion or became clichés, but it’s now time to bring them back.”

Retro Feast is open seven days a week from 8am until midnight.