Albert’s Schloss to make London debut

Manchester’s Mission Mars is to take over the former Rainforest Café site on Shaftesbury Avenue to launch London’s first Albert’s Schloss.

The Alpine-themed Cook Haus and Bavarian Bier Palace is due to open in spring 2024.

It will serve dishes including fondue, schnitzel and bratwurst across 500 covers, and will house four bars with diners entertained by performances every night of the week.

The site, most recently branded as Jungle Cave, will be the fourth Albert’s Schloss in the UK after Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Mission Mars chief executive Roy Ellis said: “It’s a stunning 18,000 sq ft space in the famous Trocadero in the heart of the West End.

“We’ve designed a beautiful space that pays homage to all these facets, including over 500 covers for Cook Haus dining, four bars measuring over 45 metres in length, and a stage to catch our unmissable live bands, cabaret and gospel choirs, who make up part of an impressive showtime line up.

“On the ground floor, we will offer a taste of our in-haus bakery, plus tankards of Europe’s finest biers and Pilsners, as well as our artisan schnapps experiences.”

Ellis added: “As in other cities, Schloss will recruit the best artistic talent available and offer totally unique and unlike anywhere else entertainment seven days a week.”

Thomas Rose, co-founder of P-THREE, who are leasing the site to Mission Mars, said: “The signing of Albert’s Schloss is a great example of the role we play in securing best-in-class operators for leading destinations. By making their London debut with Criterion Capital on Shaftesbury Avenue, Albert’s Schloss highlight the strength and appeal of the West End, which continues to attract and deliver the very best of leisure and F&B.”

Close to Piccadilly Circus, the new London venue will create 200 jobs.