‘TV Dinners for U’ experience pairs gourmet food with
curated menu of TV shows from new free streaming service, U

• New restaurant pop-up heightens the ‘TV dining’ experience through a scientifically curated menu of dishes paired with specific TV genres
• Food Scientist Dr Stuart Farrimond spent multiple hours and tested dozens of recipes and possible flavour combinations to perfect the menu– with dishes designed to engage the senses
• The ‘TV Dinners for U’ restaurant will be open to the public on 17th July
• Celebrity guests Katherine Ryan and Shaun Williamson will host the grand opening of the restaurant
• UKTV’s free streaming platform U, with 8,500 hours of content, has created the pop-up eatery, which promises to elevate the ‘TV dining’ experience, by pairing food with curated TV shows available on U including Battle in the Box, Whitstable Pearl and the complete boxset of Sons of Anarchy

PICS TO DOWNLOAD HERE: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzQ72

The world’s first TV dinners pop-up restaurant has opened in Holborn, London, serving gourmet food scientifically proven to enhance the TV viewing experience.

Diners at the restaurant will be offered the ultimate TV dinner experience, with a menu scientifically pairing food with a curated list of TV shows available on UKTV’s new streaming service, U.

The bespoke dishes, created by Michelin-trained chef Sam Brotchie and food scientist Dr Stuart Farrimond, have been devised with each programme in mind to provide the optimum level of enjoyment.

Special guests Katherine Ryan and Shaun Williamson will open the restaurant, by U, the new free streaming service from UKTV, which launches on 16th July

The restaurant will provide guests with a specially curated menu, informed by science, to enhance and elevate the TV viewing and dining experience. Once diners have selected their U show of choice from a curated list including Battle in the Box, The Marlow Murder Club, Katherine Ryan: Parental Guidance, Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens and many more, they’ll be invited to pop on their headphones and settle in to enjoy their ‘TV dinner’.

For the ‘TV Dinners for U’ restaurant, food science expert Dr Stuart Farrimond identified five genres of TV available on U, and spent multiple hours and tested dozens of recipes and possible flavour combinations to inspire the menu.

If a guest were to select a programme like a crime drama at the pop-up, such as Whitstable Pearl or The Marlow Murder Club, the dish they’d be served would pair with their TV choice.

A crime drama food pairing would include the likes of complex (low GI) carbohydrates to provide sustained energy, aroma compounds to increase alertness and caffeine or dark chocolate to increase alertness, energy, and concentration.

The menu at the ‘TV Dinners for U’ restaurant will include a specially devised main, dessert, drink and appetiser for each genre of programme on offer.

Dr Stuart Farrimond’s findings include:

• Factual & Real Life – with calming foods that aid clear thinking
• Entertainment & Comedy – a mood-boosting menu for sharing
• Action-adventure Shows – intense flavours for added excitement
• Comforting Classics – comforting foods that feel familiar
• Crime Drama – food to evoke intrigue and concentration

Guests can choose a number of shows to watch including brand new entertainment show, Battle in the Box, based on a hit Korean format, which sees pairs of comics and celebrities battle it out for pride, prizes and most importantly, floorspace.

Katherine Ryan said,

“I have been so excited to try out the TV Dinners for U restaurant – what a brilliant concept!"

Katherine continued, "After eating delicious and exciting food that complements some of my favourite programmes, I am more inspired than ever to get home after a busy day and tuck in to quality entertainment! I wish I could do this every day. For those coming down to the TV Dinners restaurant, I hope they enjoy it as much as me, and for those at home, see if you can pair your food in front of the box to some of the brilliant programmes on offer with U, for the ultimate TV dinner experience!"

Penny Brough, Chief Marketing Officer, UKTV said: “To celebrate the launch of UKTV’s new streaming platform, U, we wanted to bring the extraordinary range of U’s free quality content to the public through a culinary immersive experience.

"Given that the British public love a TV dinner it seemed the perfect match for this unique dining-viewing experience."

"And for those who aren’t able to get down to the event, hopefully it can inspire them to try out pairing food with their U TV programme of choice at home!”

From fact-hounds and drama lovers to armchair sleuths and reality TV junkies, U will be home to almost 8,500 hours of free content, comprising of new programming, exclusive shows, award-winning originals, and iconic programmes from the BBC.

U’s TV Dinners restaurant will be open to the public on Wednesday 17th July 2024 in London’s Holborn is available to book for free here: https://TVDinnersForU.eventbrite.com

Alongside viewer favourites and popular back-catalogue hits such as The Bill and Classic EastEnders, audiences will be able to enjoy new programming around launch, including; brand new original comedy reality gameshow Battle in the Box, hosted by Jimmy Carr, the second series of crime drama Whitstable Pearl, series one to seven of Sons of Anarchy starring Charlie Hunnam and Orlando Bloom: To the Edge which follows actor and adventure enthusiast, Orlando Bloom on a physical, mental and spiritual journey of self-discovery as he undertakes three extreme sports.

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For more information, please contact: Kirsty Woods, kirsty.woods@taylorherring.com / Alex Butler alex.butler@taylorherring.com

About U

U is UKTV’s free streaming service, providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels – U&Dave, U&DRAMA U&W and U&YESTERDAY. Viewers can browse 8,500 hours of programming – including exclusive content, award-winning originals, premiere acquisitions and iconic BBC programmes across drama, (Whitstable Pearl, Marlow Murder Club, Annika, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Sons of Anarchy, Mike, Madam Secretary, A Million Little Things, The Shield, The Bill, Classic EastEnders, Holby City plus upcoming series in 2025 such as Bergerac and Outrageous), comedy (Meet the Richardsons, Red Dwarf, Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, We Are Not Alone, Rosie Jones’s Comedy Disability Extravaganza),entertainment (Battle in the Box, Big Zuu's Big Eats, David Mitchell's Outsiders, QI, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, World's Most Dangerous Roads), and factual entertainment (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, MasterChef Australia, Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Secrets of the London Underground, Bangers & Cash, Orlando Bloom: To The Edge). U is available through the U app via computer, tablet or smart phone, or on television with Freeview Play, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, NOW and Roku. u.co.uk

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, Gold, Alibi and Eden - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview and Freesat; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.