River barge restaurant coming to Regent's Canal

Brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri are preparing to open Caravel – a restaurant and bar housed in a converted barge moored on the banks of the Regent's Canal – on 10 March. 

Meaning 'small, light Spanish ship or sailing boat' in the 15th and 17th centuries, Caravel was used as a working canal barge for centuries. Having fallen into disrepair, the barge was restored by the team at Holborn Studios in the mid-90s and named 'Poppy'. The boat was then taken over by the Spiteri brothers during lockdown.

The barge interior will now function as a 40-seater dining room, located between Hoxton and Islington on a quiet canal-side street. 

Then concise menu has been created by Lorcan, drawing on his experience in kitchens at Quo Vadis, Oldroyd and Rochelle Canteen, as well as his successful Guinea Fowlers pop-up and his time leading Studio Kitchen. 

Initially open for dinner Thursday–Saturday, Caravel will offer a simple, regularly changing a la carte menu. Diners can start with snacks such as homemade bread and butter and slices of cured meats. Starters include sesame prown toast with spiced tartare, confit duck rissoles, and violet artichoke with kohlrabi. Mains will span a range of British, Italian and French fare, such as white crab tagliatelle with fennel and garlic; as well as hearty plates like crispy poork belly, green beans and anchoïde; and roast hake, confit potatoes and curry sauce. Blood orange jelly with honeycomb and almond cake with salted caramel ice cream will be among the available desserts.

Fin, who will manage the floor, will also create the drinks list. The selection of ready-to-serve cocktails include a Blood Orange Margarita, made with agave and blood orange syrup; a classic Negroni with a rhubarb twist; or a Rum’n’Coke Old Fashioned.

Speaking of the opening, Fin says: "Lorcan and I are so excited to finally open Caravel. We have actively transformed this barge from a rusty old thing to this incredible space, and can’t wait to have people on board."

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