Beza, Tasty Jerk and Pot & Rice sign up to Elephant Park

Beza, Tasty Jerk and Pot & Rice have signed to open at Elephant Park in the London borough of Southwark.

Ethiopian vegan restaurant Beza and Caribbean concept Tasty Jerk were previously tenants at Artworks Elephant, Lendlease's pop-up retail park at Elephant Park ahead of its recent £2.3b redevelopment. Pan-Asian operator Pot & Rice will serve rice pots, mochi, yuzu cheesecake and teas.

The news follows the launch of the leasing of the next phase of Elephant Park, which comprises 16 food and beverage units totalling 37,000 sq ft, for which Lendlease is seeking to attract further local independent businesses.

Guy Thomas, head of retail at Lendlease, said the brands were "an ideal complement to our plans for the next phase of Elephant Park".

Beza Ethio, founder of Beza, described it as an opportunity they "could not miss"; while Chris Liang, restaurant manager at Pot & Rice, said it was a "great location".

The operators will join the Tap In, Dima Beautiful and Koi Ramen, as well as Mercato Metropolitano's sustainable community food market concept MM Factory which is opening later in the year.

Nash Bond, CF Commercial and Shelley Sandzer represented Lendlease.