The Gantry, a new design-led hotel, opened in Stratford, east London, yesterday complete with an eye-catching restaurant and a ground-floor artisanal food market with deli and cafe.

Union Social, its first-floor restaurant, has a cocktail bar and open kitchen to one side and floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound terrace to the other. The decor is industrial-influenced, and the all-day global menu from Sicilian chef Salvatore Coco makes heavy use of ingredients from southeast England.

A drinks offering of ‘classic cocktails with a twist’ has been created by mixologist Walter Pintus, who has worked at the Ritz and Connaught. A separate ‘sparkling bar’, designated Coupe at Union Social, offers fizz from English sparklers to champagne and prosecco, along with spritzes and some of the latest ‘hard seltzers’. A rooftop bar with live music and DJs will open on the 18th floor next spring.

The 291-room Gantry is part of the Curio Collection, a ‘soft’ brand within Hilton Worldwide, meaning it retains its own branding and a measure of individuality.