A touch of Amsterdam in the heart of London. Houseboats, canals, and a floating cheese restaurant make this place a culinary insider tip.
The Cheese Barge was commissioned through an open design competition initiated by British Land, which has been redeveloping the 11-acre Paddington Central area around the canal since 2013. As part of this regeneration, over £15 million has been invested in redesigning the public realm along the canal towpath, including the addition of two other cafes housed on converted barges that were originally used during the London Olympic Park era. The Cheese Barge restaurant is now permanently moored on the canal, positioned just below the Bishops Bridge Road overpass, alongside these other converted vessels.
The design features a distinctive sloping green “cowl” that follows the elongated form of the barge, drawing inspiration from James Stirling’s vaporetto-inspired Electa bookshop pavilion in the Giardini of the Venice Biennale. This element introduces a touch of Venice to the edge of Little Venice, while also paying homage to the tarpaulins traditionally used to cover cargo-carrying canal boats. A subtle zig-zag pattern on the verdigris-coloured, patinated metal surface references the gentle ripples of water, enhancing the vessel’s maritime character.
Constructed in a workshop in Somerset, the barge was transported to London by road and carefully craned into the canal, where it was floated into its final position. The design seamlessly blends contemporary architecture with historical references, creating a striking and functional addition to the canal’s landscape.
