Shaftesbury announces the launch of Bodega Rita’s pop-up bottle shop and deli in Lexington Street, Soho ahead of new restaurant opening
Shaftesbury has announced the launch of Bodega Rita’s pop-up bottle shop today. Missy Flynn and Gabriel Pryce, co-founding partners behind legendary London eatery Rita’s Dining and cult sandwich shop Bodega Rita’s (both now closed), have launched the pop-up bottle shop and deli at 49 Lexington Street.
The opening comes ahead of the official launch of their latest restaurant venture, Rita’s Soho, which is due to open in early 2021.
Flynn said, “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our new restaurant in the new year. We were unsure whether to do anything this side of Christmas and had to tread carefully in terms of timing, but it felt like a shame to stay hidden.
'We’ve brought all our fixtures from Bodega Rita’s Kings Cross out of storage, so Bodega Rita’s will be temporarily ‘popping up’ between now and the official restaurant opening in 2021. We’re essentially squatting in our own restaurant!”
Bodega Rita’s Bottle Shop will sell a curated selection of natural, low intervention, and biodynamic wines, a range of Bodega Rita’s favourite deli items, Christmas hampers, pre-mixed cocktails and gifts.
A number of Wine Bundles featuring hand picked cuvees and vintages will also be on offer, as well as the Prices for bundles and bubbles.
Knockout wines include the much coveted Domaine La Calmette Nyctalope Pet Nat and the Staffelter Hof Little Bastard, both of which are in limited supply so advice is to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Pryce commented, “We'll be opening a 'pop-up in our own shop' up until the 25th of December. Hospitality is part of who we are so we are of course so eager to be able to welcome everyone into our new restaurant and for me to start cooking again.
'For now, we’ll be opening the doors for a few weeks in the lead up to Christmas and it feels great to be able to share some beautiful wines, bubbles, mulled wine and a few deli bits over the festive season. The restaurant will be built properly in the New Year and we hopefully will be opening Rita’s proper in early 2021,”
For those looking to spice up their Christmas feasting, the Christmas Hamper includes two bottles of selected wine, 500ml of the famous hibiscus House ‘Rita Mix, dried ancho & guajillo chile, habanero chutney, cornbread stuffing mix, and Mexican mulled wine spice kit?, as well as a number of other festive treats.
Julia Wilkinson Restaurant Director at Shaftesbury, said, “We are delighted that Bodega Rita’s has joined Shaftesbury’s F&B portfolio. They will bring a unique and independent offer to the Soho customer and we look forward to them launching their full concept in January.”
The Sandwich King Hamper is here for everyone looking to up their Boxing Day sandwich game. Featuring 'The Grinch' jalapeno relish, house giardiniera, sliced dill pickles, spiced mayo, Rita’s homemade 'Hot Water' chile oil, a sandwich spreader, and a Bodega Rita's tote bag.
In store, shoppers can expect to be greeted by the aromas of freshly ground specialty coffee and Ponche de Vino Tinto - a hot Mexican red wine punch made in house every day. Coffee is sourced from sustainable East London roastery, Ozone Coffee and is available to take away.
Bodega Rita’s Bottle Shop will be open from 11am to 8pm on the following dates in December. Thur 10, Fri 11, Sat 12, Sun 13 Thur 17, Fri 18, Sat 19, Sun 20, Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23, Thur 24.
Rita’s Soho will open in early 2021, more details to follow shortly.