Ben Bateman is excited. Standing in Arbequina, the renowned Spanish tapas restaurant on Cowley Road, where it has reigned supreme for nine years, the general manager and his team are now ready to expand.
Yes, plans for their second site in Oxford’s Covered Market this summer have been announced, with a brand new restaurant opening in former sports shop Blue Blood, which will have two floors, outdoor tables, and an open plan kitchen.
‘It’s going to be a 90 cover restaurant with a similar menu of Spanish tapas style sharing plates, that will fit in really well at The Covered Market’
Aiming to open in July/August, with the same open plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work, and a zinc bar running the length of the restaurant, in terms of decor think Barrafina in London with Mediterranean tiles and a Spanish vibe.
“We aim to transform the new site into a buzzy restaurant with a great vibe, based around our current concept here on Cowley Road,” Ben says. “It’s such a great space so it’s really exciting.”
So what can we expect of the new Arbequina? “It’s going to be a 90 cover restaurant with a similar menu of Spanish tapas style sharing plates, that will fit in really well with the food offering at The Covered Market, while introducing something a bit different,” he adds.
‘We want to be the change we want to see – to be a part of that buzz, so the move there really makes sense’
The upstairs floor on the new site will be open for reservations, while downstairs will have room for walk-ins, and there will be takeaways too if people want to eat in the communal dining areas in the market.
So why The Covered Market? “Since Hamblin, The Market Tap by Tap Social, Sartorellis, Il Corno and Gulp Fiction opened, amongst others, the food and drink scene there has been totally transformed,” Ben says.
“We want to be the change we want to see – to be a part of that buzz, so the move there really makes sense. We hope to bring in more people and encourage diners to pop in, because The Covered Market attracts people of all ages.
“And we have been wanting to do something else for a while now, so when we were approached by the council about opening in The Covered Market we knew it was the right time and the right location.
‘we have been wanting to do something else for a while now, so when we were approached, we knew it was the right time and the right location’
“The city centre rents are usually so high that it’s hard to open an independent restaurant there. So this feels like a match made in heaven.”
And what of their Cowley Road restaurant? “This site has done what we always wanted it to do,” Ben says gesturing around with great pride at the restaurant founded by Ben Whyles and Rufus Thurston. “It has such a great feel to it and we’ve had such loyal customers since day one.
“But Ben Whyles’ team here is solid, some of them have been with him from day one, including the head chef Norbe Pena-Nunez, so we are happy for Ben to head up the kitchens on the new site and get everything up and running.
“We are just really excited. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s good to have a new project, something to get our teeth into.”
‘Crowdfunding is a new thing for us and a great way to get people interested’
And what will they call it? “That’s to be confirmed, but probably Arbequina at The Covered Market, because we have a name for ourselves here in Oxford and it’s our brand, with the same focus on Spanish tapas freshly made in the kitchen.
“But of course the new site will be more of a lunchtime venue, because The Covered Market is still currently only open in the evenings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The dream is to open seven days a week but we can’t run before we can walk,” Ben adds.
Arbequina is also crowd-funding the venture to involve the community as much as possible. “Crowdfunding is a new thing for us and a great way to get people interested, so it’s not donations we’re after, but people can buy packages; from dinners with booze, to wine tasting events, sherry pairings and talks as well as the chance to go up on the Founders Wall,” Ben explains.
“So it’s all very exciting because once we are up-and-running we expect the new Arbequina to be very fast-paced. It’s going to be good.”
For crowdfunding details go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/arbequina-oxford-covered-market
