IT'S the perfect place for a post lockdown celebration, boasting a spectacular menu to be enjoyed in glamorous surroundings.

Restaurant bosses are preparing to reopen a completely redesigned and newly refurbished Shanghai 1814 in Southampton next week.

First launched four years ago in an iconic Victorian building just below the city's medieval Bargate, the distinctive building housing the modern Chinese restaurant was previously a bank and its neo-baroque design and double-height banking hall have allowed the creation of an impressive galleried dining area.

Diners, who come to enjoy the delightful creations of an executive chef who previously worked at Michelin-starred Hakkasan in London's Mayfair, will be wowed by the new design.

Daily Echo:

It incorporates full-height cherry trees creating a canopy of blossom over the dining area. These contrast with chandeliers and dramatic dark walls.

Traditional fretwork screens now divide the restaurant area, creating an intimate ambience while meeting social distancing requirements.

Private dining rooms and nightclub-style soundproofed karaoke rooms have all been redecorated, as well as the mezzanine gallery, and bars have been installed on each floor to enable family, friends and colleagues to socialise comfortably.

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A new garden terrace for al fresco dining has also been created.

Iren Su told the Daily Echo: "1814 delivers a truly exceptional and memorable dining experience: outstanding modern Chinese dishes in a glamorous and spectacular setting, along with a bar menu that features special cocktails that mix Eastern legend and Western spirit.

Daily Echo:

"We believe we have created a truly exceptional restaurant experience with a variety of dining options to meet different needs and expectations, and we are excited to welcome diners to experience the new 1814.

"The stop, start, stop of lockdowns over the past year inevitably negatively impacted our business. We closed 1814 and spent time reviewing our hospitality offering. The result is a complete redesign and refurbishment of our restaurant to anticipate what diners would require for an enjoyable dining experience post-lockdown. Our intention was to put in place appropriate social distancing measures while creating a very special venue."

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