Event and PR agency Goho ran the VIP launch event for P.F. Chang’s newest London restaurant at Westfield Stratford City on 17 September, ahead of the restaurant’s public opening on 21 September.
The launch brought together press, influencers and local community members for an evening designed to showcase both the food and the space itself: guests explored the 460+ sqm restaurant, sampled signature dishes including Dynamite Shrimp and Mongolian Beef, and experienced entertainment including lion dancing, drumming, Chinese calligraphy and live music, reflecting P.F. Chang’s Pan-Asian culinary heritage.
Stacey-Rebekka Karlsson, founder and managing director at Goho, said: “The successful VIP launch party showed the potential for P.F. Chang’s to host big interactive events! The space worked brilliantly for a large guest list, while still allowing us to incorporate multiple entertainment and activation elements throughout the evening, from live performances and a DJ to roaming entertainment and interactive stations. With a strong food and drink offering as well, it’s a great addition to Stratford Westfield.”
Beyond the launch itself, the restaurant is also going to be a private events venue in its own right. At the launch, Conference News’ team had the opportunity to speak to Taylor Viersen, vice president, global brand development at P.F. Chang’s, and Arif Jivraj, UK franchise operator for P.F. Chang’s.
They explained that the dining room is designed with flexibility in mind: “The way the dining room is set up, we’re able to break it off and give whole areas to larger groups, so they can have that privately for themselves, or look at the entire venue as a whole.”
On what sets the venue’s catering apart, they added: “There are some signature dishes that only P.F. Chang’s do, like our Mongolian beef, which is actually the number one selling dish internationally, and the dynamite shrimp. We try to hit it all, and then we’re able to build out packages depending on what people want – catering to their interests, their likes, their spice level. We’re able to mirror the menus to meet the demand of the consumer.”
The restaurant, seating 166 guests across indoor and terrace dining areas on the second floor of Westfield Stratford City, runs a fully halal menu, designed to serve Stratford’s local community with sharing dishes drawn from across Asia.
Jim Mazany, CEO of P.F. Chang’s, said: “Opening at Westfield Stratford City marks another exciting step in P.F. Chang’s continued international growth and our commitment to bringing the experience of our brand to guests in dynamic communities around the world. Stratford’s energy and diversity make it a natural fit for P.F. Chang’s, and we’re proud to work alongside Arif and the local team to create a restaurant that delivers the bold flavors, warm hospitality and memorable experiences our guests know and love.”