Pistachio-Hued Italian Juggernaut Lina Stores Expands Again With Clapham Restaurant

Soho deli institution and, more recently, expansion juggernaut Lina Stores looks set to open a restaurant and deli in Clapham, according to Big Hospitality. The pistachio-hued outfit — fresh from opening in Tokyo of all places — will take over The Dairy and Counter Culture’s premises in Clapham, with Robin and Sarah Gill’s restaurants having shut down in August 2020.

The two openings — a restaurant, and a deli space like the original on Brewer Street — would join its Soho restaurant, on Greek Street, and the vast King’s Cross hybrid on Stable Street off Coal Drops Yard.

While the addition of two new sites very much fits with the brand’s growth, facilitated by Chris Miller’s White Rabbit Fund — also an investor in Andrew Wong’s now-closed Kym’s; Indian group Kricket; and bowl-fillers Island Poké — the move into Clapham appears more dictated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has led a number of restaurants best-known for their central presence to focus on openings in more residential areas, including the likes of Spanish group Brindisa; udon specialists Koya; and even purveyor of expensive fish and reductive stereotyping Richard Caring.

With its bankable blend of eye-catching interiors, longevity, and Italian deli staples, the expansion of Lina Stores into a brand as ready to roll as its pasta dough looks set to continue beyond Clapham, with further openings in the pipeline. More soon on a timeline for this duo in SW4.