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You probably know Ralph Lauren best for its polo shirts and general upmarket fashion items, but in the somewhat near future the brand will offer something new to its London fanbase. That’s right, you read the headline: Ralph Lauren is opening a bar in the capital.
The American brand has announced plans to open a brand new restaurant and bar – called, naturally, The Polo Bar Ralph Lauren – at 1 Hanover Square in central London. It comes after the success of the Polo Bar in New York, which opened back in 2015 and has remained popular since.
The London Polo Bar promises customers a chance to indulge in ‘the brand's signature charm and timeless elegance with a refined, yet welcoming dining experience’. Don’t get too excited though – it’s currently slated to open in 2028. At least that gives you plenty of time to look forward to it.
While this might be London’s first Polo Bar, it isn’t Ralph Lauren’s first non-fashion outlet in the capital. Bond Street and Brompton Cross boast branches of Ralph’s Coffee, two of 40 coffee shops owned by the brand across the world.
On top of the cafés, Ralph Lauren also operates a few restaurants in key international cities. This will be its sixth, after locations in Paris, New York, Chicago, Milan, and Chengdu. It views its hospitality portfolio as ‘a natural extension of the World of Ralph Lauren as expressed through the culinary arts’, so the food and service should theoretically be held to the same high standards as those iconic polos.
The big man, Ralph himself, expressed excitement about the news. He said that he has ‘always been inspired by the special charm and heritage of the British way of living,’ which he describes as ‘a blend of timeless sophistication, understated ease and natural elegance’.
‘That perfect balance of refinement and warmth, and the comfort of sitting around a table enjoying a meal with loved ones, are what my restaurants have always meant to me,’ Lauren said.
Unsurprisingly, no exact dates have been provided for the restaurant’s grand 2028 opening. All we know is that it’ll be very swish – and probably pretty expensive.
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