Thomas Klein International, a turnkey consultancy for the hospitality business, has been appointed to conceptualise the food and beverage offering of the El Seref project, a site spanning 40,000 sq ft.

The project, which includes terraces offering views across the Nile, is due to open early next year, a statement said.

The total investment inclusive of interiors and kitchen fit-out for the project owned and managed by El Seref Tourism and Hospitality is estimated at $8 million.

“The site was originally planned to be the ballroom of a five-star hotel, to be built by El Seref Tourism and Hospitality, however, the local market’s needs shifted during the construction of the site, and the owner decided to re-visit the usage of the building,” said Daniel During, managing partner of Thomas Klein International.

“We definitely have a very large area to work with, and our initial task will be to study the location and the market, and to estimate the potential demand of the location. The biggest task now is to devise exciting concepts for such a big space.”

El Seref restaurant will be situated on a prime location on the riverbed of an historical site on the Nile in Omdurman, 200 meters from the confluence of the White and Blue Nile.

“This is definitely a very interesting project for us, as Omdurman was the ancient capital of Sudan, and the restaurant will be situated on the exact location of the site where the last battle against the British was fought,” added During.

“When you visit the site you are still able to see the walls that protected the fighters on the site when the troops were led by Al Mahdi.”

“Due to the location of the project, we are working on a concept that will position El Seref as a destination restaurant for both locals and tourists,” concluded During.

“The complexity of the project, the sheer size and uniqueness of the site, and the fact that it will be a first of its kind in the region, and a totally new concept to the Sudanese public, makes this a very special project,” said Abdel Rahim El Sadig, general manager of El Seref Tourism and Hospitality.

“This, coupled with the high level of investment of the project, meant that we had to select a highly-capable F&B consultant with a proven track record to manage the project. We therefore decided to partner with Thomas Klein International on this project, as we felt they fulfil all the pre-requisites in managing our investment successfully,” concluded El Sadig. – TradeArabia News Service