As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, and businesses in Dubai begin to take tentative steps towards getting back on their feet, bars and restaurants are having to quickly adapt to what promises to be a very different F&B landscape and a new version of normal.
The Bungalow, a popular beach bar and lounge situated on the south end of La Mer, is a prime example of such a venue. A seaside F&B destination with an expansive layout The Bungalow offers guests ample space, extensive outdoor air-conditioned facilities and endless stunning views. Since launching in November 2019, it’s fair to say that Mother Nature has thrown considerable challenges The Bungalow’s way in its first four months of operation, pre-lockdown.
From torrential rain to severe sandstorms, The Bungalow’s team has always made sure to plan ahead, think on their feet and effectively adapt to unforeseen circumstances. On top of overcoming all the usual obstacles of opening a new venue, they’ve faced their fair share of unusual ones too, and now they’re ready to become a home away from home for Dubai’s summertime residents.
Charlie Weaving, Managing Partner of Dubai based LIVIT Hospitality Management, the company behind The Bungalow, says, “It’s been an incredibly challenging time for our industry, and, unfortunately, there’s going to be a lot of causalities when this pandemic eventually subsides. When we opened The Bungalow, we were determined to create an accessible venue that provided value for money, while still offering a great F&B experience. We felt that the high-end sector in Dubai was getting more and more saturated, and people were looking for dining and social experiences that were more casual and a less costly. That’s exactly what we’ve set about offering with The Bungalow.”
Joao Serio, Director of Operations at LIVIT Hospitality Management, comments, “I believe Dubai’s F&B industry is facing its most challenging period yet. With businesses struggling to survive right now, unfortunately, a lot of companies will have to close down in the coming months. Thankfully, we are extremely confident that, once the restrictions are lifted, our venues will be ready to go from strength to strength, and F&B in Dubai will thrive once again.
