“Cmglee BT Tower” by Cmglee – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

It’s lain dormant since 1980 (amid fears it may become a target for the IRA) but now the revovling restaurant at the top of London’s BT Tower is back. Albeit only for two weeks in July and August.

The special, one-off opening will mark the iconic building’s 50th anniversary. BT will hold a ballot for diners who want to eat at the restaurant between 25 July and 7 August. Enter the ballot here.

Compass Group’s Dan Perea will oversee the kitchen, turning out a four course lunchtime and seven course dinner menu, priced at £49.95 and £67.95 pp respectively. The first ballot for tables opens today (22 June) and will run until 29 June. The second ballot will be held from 30 June-7 July. Around 1,400 will be able to eat at the long lost restaurant; ballot entrants will be contacted if they have been successful.

On the menu: charred summer lettuces, parmesan crumb, slow-cooked hen’s egg, summer truffle; spiced Gressingham duck breast, crispy confit leg, broccoli, hazelnut, apricot; and lemon posset, burnt meringue, lemon sorbet.

The building, so long an integral part of London’s famous skyline, was opened in 1965 by Harold Wilson when it was known as the Post Office Tower. The restaurant was launched by Tony Benn and Billy Butlin the following year.

Any profits from the restaurant reopening will be donated to ChildLine.