Part two of our Ocean Basket story moves to a brand-new restaurant in Kingston, where the waterfront location locks in the ocean-front atmosphere.
Our previous Ocean Basket story, which was a special request from the foodies in our Bromley team, toured a new South African favourite in the area that fit right into the market town of Bromley. Next, I’m headed to another market town, Kingston-upon-Thames, to see Ocean Basket’s brand-new riverfront retreat.
Family friendly? Yes.
Foodie culture? Absolutely.
Love of international flavours? 100%.
There are a lot of parallels to draw between Bromley and Kingston. Both have been market towns for over 800 years, so both have an exceptional range to choose from in retail and restaurants. Both have large swaths of gorgeous green space, friendly communities, international cuisine and are hugely popular with families both for renting and buying property.
Kingston, however, has one thing Grace Harding, CEO of Ocean Basket, was especially keento make the most of in Ocean Basket’s second UK location: unbelievably picturesque views of the Thames, “Kingston was one of the areas on our initial list when we conducted research on the locations that will be most relevant for our offering. Our Kingston site is magic. A beautiful deck on the Thames with a spacious interior which still feels close to the water, even during those freezing days.”
When I visit the Kingston restaurant, the atmosphere is undeniable. There’s a tantalising aroma of fresh-cooked, salted and buttery seafood when you step in the door. The restaurant is full of lively groups you could easily confuse for holidaymakers laughing over large, decadent platters. I recommend you sit on the deck, with sail boats and paddle boarders floating by and the merry sounds of happy families behind you, to enjoy a crisp white wine and your platter of prawns, calamari, and muscles in the famous Ocean Basket creamy lemon garlic sauce. It’s all the ambience of a beach holiday without the airfare.
When Ocean Basket arrived on English shores, Grace explained, South African fans travelled from near and far to get that taste of home. As they came, they brought friends from all across the UK. Now the locals have gotten well and truly involved. Grace said, “we are thrilled by the reviews we are receiving – especially commenting on our warm and hospitable service. We work really hard at that.”
She added, “We need to learn in communities where we can be close to those around us, embrace the locals…Our positioning is a ‘Mediterranean home’ – that means we love being that happy place in your community that is there when you need a spoil for a special occasion or a quick break from cooking. We thrive in environments where our guests become our friends.”
A new home, a global heart
Ocean Basket is settling into the Kingston landscape nicely. As Grace said, “The foundations of our brand has evolved over the last 27 years and is now serving quality seafood meals in an environment filled with positivity and love in 18 countries…Our entry into the UK was planned for years. We are aware of the competitive nature of the market and are confident that if we stick to our knitting we will grow a relevant and much loved brand in the UK.”
An international brand might seem like an odd choice for a local story, but this is the kind of local story you’d only find in London. It’s something I treasure about this city, as a transplant to the country myself. We live in a global city with room for everyone’s hometown fare. London’s powerful local appetite for diverse flavours empowers restaurateurs from across the globe to set up shop here.
We said, in our Holidays from Home: Advice from Foxtons Expats article, “if you are a little homesick, London is the perfect place for it. …People from all over the world love life in London, bringing in the incredible abundance of cultures, customs and communities that make the Capital so unique and so exciting. Discovering where to find the perfect Boerewors, Nihari or pumpkin pie in London echoes the magic of celebrating holidays with our loved ones, bringing home a little closer when we need it.”
Kingston, in particular, is a fantastic destination for international renters and buyers. You’ll be in good company, as it has a strong international student population from Kingston University. There is loads to do locally, international supermarkets for a taste of home, as well as convenient train service to Waterloo Station which provides an easy base explore the most iconic sites of the Capital. Ocean Basket, which holds a special place in the hearts of London’s large and growing South African population, fits beautifully into Kingston’s tableau.
Grace says, “We want to be relevant to those we serve. There’s a deep realness to our culture. We spend more time arguing about food, service and the correct treatment of our in-store crew than debating numbers. The obsession is to fill the theatre, not to sell tickets. Very different focus.”
A beach holiday in the midst of cold and cloudy London pretty much sells itself. However, there was a surprise, for me, in this story. I found something kind of electric about the energy around Ocean Basket. Maybe it’s Grace, with her passion for bringing good food and the community-feel of Mediterranean-style dining to Kingston. Maybe it’s the excitement of so many South Africans driving miles and miles for this taste of home, or the Foxtons team who’ve requested this topic so many times, or the rave reviews from locals-turned-regulars in Kingston and Bromley. It seems to me to be so much proof that good food moves people – but don’t just take my word for it.
If you're looking for some more local London personality, see our series of Local Stories.
