Glitzy Dubai restaurant brand set to open in Knightsbridge sparks ridicule over its name
- Japan-inspired Clap will open over three floors in Knightsbridge in November
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A glamorous Dubai hospitality chain is set to unveil a three-storey venue with rooftop bar in swanky Knightsbridge later this year – but some have suggested its name might not be quite so well received on British shores.
According to The Caterer, the coveted Clap restaurant, which already has eateries in Saudi Arabi and Lebanon, will open in the upmarket London postcode in November.
However, social media users have met the planned arrival of the Japanese restaurant with what might be deemed a rather juvenile response, referring to the fact that the name has long been associated with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK.
Knightsbridge will get a new addition to its restaurant scene in November – but some have questioned using the name Clap isn’t the wisest idea on UK shores
The Twittersphere suggested that the name still has other associations in the UK
For decades, ‘the clap’ has been a colloquial nickname for Gonorrhoea, an STI caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus that is passed via unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex.
On Twitter, one user joked: ‘You’ll still be feeling the Clap’s unique vibe for weeks after’. Another added: ‘Clap, a sensation like no other’.
The new Japanese restaurant will take over a disused London tube station and will boast a cafe, restaurant lounge and rooftop bar overlooking the London skyline.
After the news was announced, the CEO of the brand behind Clap, Tony Habre of ADDMIND Hospitality, said: ‘We are excited to share the unique experience of CLAP with Londoners and visitors alike.
‘We hope that CLAP will be a great addition to the London culinary lifestyle scene, and we are proud of the concept and the community it has created’.
The criticism is unlikely to worry the hospitality brand; the restaurant chain is already a proven success, featuring in the prestigious Gault & Millau culinary guide amongst others.
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