Popular London cafe EL&N (pronounced "Elan") has announced it's expanding overseas, with branches set to open in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.
The chain, the name of which stands for "eat, live and nourish", first opened its doors at a venue in Mayfair in 2017 and quickly became famous for its Instagrammable interiors, dripping in pink and replete with neon signs nestled in flower walls.
It has often made headlines for being one of the city's most Instagrammed spots and for its quirky latte art, and venues across the English capital have since opened, with eight locations, including at Carnaby Street, Selfridges and St Pancras Station.
The UAE's outpost will open in the first or second week of June and will be located in Dubai's DIFC, in Gate Village 3, next to the equally Instagram-famous Saltbae Burger.
While it will be very similar to the London branches, we're told customers can expect a more artistic approach with modern twists and bright, bold colour pops.
The menu will encompass the cafe's classics, including the signature smashed avocado on sourdough bread, and pink chicken and waffles, alongside a collection of cakes and patisseries, plus coffee and mocktails.
"We have always dreamed of bringing our brand to Dubai as it's the perfect demographic for us," founder Alexandra Miller told The National. "We can't wait to show Dubai what we have in store."
In a video on YouTube announcing its expansion, Miller also says they will be taking EL&N to "all corners of the globe".
She adds: "We can't wait to create more picture-perfect memories with you, one city at a time."
The first of its international branches will open in Qatar on Sunday, in Galleria Mall at Msheireb. A sneak peek of the venue was shared exclusively with The National ahead of its opening, pictured below.
Elsewhere, the Kuwait venue will be opening in early May, at The Avenues Mall, in between the Cheesecake Factory and Victoria's Secret store.
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- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
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- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
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RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
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Rating: 3.5/5
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
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1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
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9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
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5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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ELIO
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
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Europe’s rearming plan
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MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
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10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
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10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
