KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar to open in Oxford
Contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar, KIBOU, is to open its sixth restaurant in Jericho this July, Oxford’s coolest* and most colourful neighbourhood. The site adds to the group’s growing portfolio of premium casual dining Japanese restaurants, with venues already operating in Cambridge, Cheltenham, Battersea, Clifton, and Solihull.
Located at 11-12 Little Clarendon Street, previously home to Wilding, this beautiful Victorian venue will undergo a full redesign and refurbishment by Q&A Interior Design Ltd to create a stunning new Japanese-inspired bar and restaurant. Featuring KIBOU’s trademark murals and digital animations, stunning Japanese floral and foliage installations, rich upholstery and iconic Japanese block print textiles, the design will also fuse effortlessly with the many original features of this stunning period property.
The new 100-cover bar and restaurant will include a light and airy conservatory with cosy booth seating and feature neon lighting, an atmospheric dining room with views to the open sushi kitchen, and a relaxed cocktail lounge with a steel-topped cocktail and spirits bar.
Outside there will be an additional 40 covers within a Japanese-inspired walled courtyard, featuring an array of lush foliage, wall art and dramatic uplighting. The venue will also benefit from an opulent private dining room, with space for up to 12 covers.
The menu at KIBOU Oxford will centre on classic and contemporary Japanese sharing plates, beautifully presented ‘moriawase’ sushi and sashimi platters, fresh seafood, A5 grade seared wagyu, and soulful bowls of steaming ramen.
Catering to all Japanese food lovers and those eager to try Japanese cuisine for the first time, KIBOU’s diverse menu also includes an extended vegan offering, Japanese classics, such as teriyaki and katsu curry, and an elegantly rich menu of Japanese-inspired desserts.
To complement the restaurant offering, KIBOU also features a standalone bar serving signature Japanese-inspired cocktails, no-and-low options, an ambitious selection of Japanese whisky, sake and umeshu, and Japanese-brewed beers.
Commenting on the new site, Sam Horswill, Managing Director at KIBOU Restaurants Ltd says;
“A site in Oxford has long been on our wishlist for KIBOU. It’s the perfect demographic for us, has ‘city’ status but with a ‘market town’ appeal, is economically robust, and benefits from a vibrant visitor economy that’s as centred on locals as it is tourists and the student population. We’re also really excited about the prospect of opening up in Jericho, a district well known for its individuality and charm, and a far cry from the homogeneity of so many UK high streets.
“Recruitment is now well underway for all key positions, plus we’re working with the current team at Wilding, who are leaving the site, to offer employment opportunities to them as well, as our overall team will be growing in number.
“With the restaurant forecast to open towards the end of July, we believe KIBOU Oxford will be a solid addition to our already successful portfolio, and remain firmly focussed on the considered expansion of the brand over the next 5 years.”
For more information about KIBOU Restaurants Ltd and the new site in Oxford, visit www.kibou.co.uk
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
*The Times 2019
Images with credits – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lcUylZjb984rj0n8eOR_jXjZd2i9SvWv?usp=sharing
Nic Crilly-Hargrave – London Food & Drink Photography
About KIBOU Restaurants Ltd
Founded in August 2019 by established hospitality leader David Franks, KIBOU Restaurants Ltd comprises of six Japanese restaurants and bars.
David Franks was previously CEO of Regent Inns and more recently chairman of Redcomb Pubs Ltd, where he was instrumental in the sale of the 15-strong pub estate to Young & Co.’s Brewery P.L.C in 2019.
KIBOU Locations:
| KIBOU Battersea – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opened July 2020) 175-177 Northcote Road Battersea London SW11 6QF Facebook/Instagram: @kiboulondon | KIBOU Cheltenham – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opened September 2020) 36 Regent Arcade High St Cheltenham GL50 1JZ Facebook/Instagram:@kiboucheltenham |
| KIBOU Clifton – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opened October 2021) 16 King’s Rd Clifton Bristol BS8 4AB Facebook/Instagram: @kibouclifton | KIBOU Solihull – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opened April 2022) 134 High Street Solihull B91 3SX
Facebook/Instagram: @kibousolihull |
| KIBOU Cambridge – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opened August 2023) 7a Jesus Lane Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB5 8BA Facebook/Instagram: @kiboucambridge | KIBOU Oxford – Japanese Kitchen & Bar (opening July 2024) 11-12 Little Clarendon Street Oxford OX1 2HP Facebook/Instagram: @kibouoxford |
Awards:
2024 – Highly Commended – Restaurant of the Year – SoGlos Lifestyle Awards
2024 – Finalist – Best Multi-Site – Golden Chopstick Awards
2023 – Finalist – Best New Restaurant (Cambridge) – R200 Awards
2023 – Highly Commended – Restaurant of the Year – SoGlos Lifestyle Awards
2023 – Winner – Excellence in Hospitality & Retail – Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
2022 – Winner – Hospitality & Leisure Venue of the Year – Solihull BID Awards
2021 – Winner – Restaurant of the Year – SoGlos Lifestyle Awards
2021 – Winner – Best Restaurant in Gloucestershire – Muddy Stilettos
2020 – Winner – Restaurant of the Year – Cotswold Life/Cheltenham BID awards
2019 – Winner – Restaurant of the Year – SoGlos Lifestyle Awards
For further information or comment please contact:
Vicki Patterson, Marketing Director, KIBOU Restaurants Ltd.
vicki@kibou.co.uk 07775517366
