London’s iconic Covent Garden shopping destination is set for the arrival of five new food and beverage brands, including a central London first for community-focused bakery Sourdough Sophia.

Sourdough Sophia’s new Neal’s Yard site is designed to showcase its range of sourdough bread and laminated pastries.

Sophia Handschuh, co-founder at Sourdough Sophia, said: “When I started this business in lockdown, I could never have imagined that I would end up here, with a store of my own in one of the most iconic locations in the world. We’re very proud to have built our presence around London, and this moment feels extra special, marrying up with a place that has such a widespread appeal with a real community feel.”

A second restaurant from the team behind Peckham favourites Levan and Bar Levan is set to open this autumn in a 1,170 sq ft space at 42 Maiden Lane. Led by Head Chef Essa Fakhry, formerly of Note in Dublin and Planque in London, Cassette aims to bring a contemporary French dining concept to the historic Grade II listed building.

For dessert, Soft Serve Society is set to open a flagship cafe at a second London location in an 850 sq ft space at 33 Earlham Street. The larger footprint will enable the brand to create a more immersive in-store experience.

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Brazilian brand OAKBERRY Açai has selected Covent Garden to open its seventh store in London, to serve its customisable, organic açai bowls and smoothies in a 380 sq ft space.

Finally, pizza-by-the-slice brand Carmy’s [pictured] has now opened its 820 sq ft site on Monmouth Street, at the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, providing a key gateway into the Seven Dials neighbourhood.

Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “This year has been a strong one for us in terms of F&B leasing, and it’s fantastic to see that momentum continue with another exceptional group of independent operators choosing Covent Garden and its Seven Dials neighbourhood.

“What sets Covent Garden apart is the calibre and diversity of our offer, and it’s this unique ecosystem that continues to attract the industry’s most exciting operators, reinforcing our position as London’s leading destination for world-class dining and hospitality.”