POP-UPS | BRAND ACTIVATIONS

Your brand, our expertise

Dark Horse works with restaurant brands to re-create the surroundings and atmosphere of their flagship restaurants in marquees in fields, London office spaces and the middle of the Arabian desert. Design and styling, front of house set up, kitchen build and fit out, team recruitment, training, health & safety, guest experience, food supply chain and logistics - all of it falls within our scope of work. Over the years we have popped up Annabel's, Harry's Bar, The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Scott's, Le Caprice, Sexy Fish, J Sheekey and SASS' Cafe.

Royal Commission of AlUla | Saudi Arabia

Annabel's | 2020 - 2025

Annabel's is one of the most closely guarded brands in hospitality. For four seasons we have been entrusted with representing the prestigious Mayfair members club in Saudi Arabia. Each season brought with it a new site and different challenges, not least mobilising a team during the pandemic to deliver season two which saw us create a rainforest inside the walls of the UNESCO world heritage site of Hegra. Season three recreated the Garden Room restaurant of the club within a clear span marquee. Our most recent season was a desert garden set within a date farm under the stars and palms.

The signature menu travelled from Mayfair; tuna tartare, Chilean sea bass, wagyu steak and the much-loved Annabel's chocolate cake served alongside non-alcoholic cocktails using locally sourced produce. We recruited chefs and front-of-house teams each season and trained them to the standard of service the brand upholds in London.

Creative direction & concept development
Production, logistics & supplier management
Recruitment & training
Catering, guest experience & operations

Royal Commission of AlUla | Saudi Arabia

SASS' Cafe | 2023 & 2024

In 2023, we were appointed to oversee the project management and operational planning for SASS' AlUla, the renowned Monaco-based restaurant club. Having already successfully designed and produced pop-ups in AlUla, we brought both contextual understanding and regional expertise, enabling us to steward the brand's arrival in the desert with confidence and precision.

The dining space was circled by towering palm trees to create a natural perimeter that softened the imposing landscape. Beneath a canopy of glittering vintage chandeliers suspended overhead, the space unfolded in layers of rich black velvet upholstery, deep crimson accents and curated golden animal ornaments in a nod to the Monegasque brand's bold and opulent identity.

A signature set menu prepared over multiple open fire pits added theatre to the dining experience. As the evening progressed, the restaurant transitioned seamlessly into a vibrant club lounge with live DJ sets energising the space and encouraging guests to linger, dine and dance late into the night.

Production, logistics & supplier management
Recruitment & training
Guest experience & hospitality
Catering & operations

MCH Group | London

Masterpiece Fair | 2010 - 2021

Founded in 2010, Masterpiece was one of the world's leading multi-disciplinary art fairs, bringing together over 140 of the most distinguished art dealerships and galleries from around the world. Showcasing the finest works of art, design, furniture, jewellery and more, from antiquity to the present day, the fair was held in the beautiful grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, from late June to early July.

Attracting established international collectors and the culturally curious, Masterpiece welcomed over 40,000 visitors over eight days. Under Urban Caprice, we designed and operated the dining offer throughout the fair; a full scale Le Caprice, Scott's seafood and champagne bars, a Mount Street Deli cafe, Harry's Bar and The Ivy Chelsea Garden. The brands perfectly complimented the calibre of the fair and became a key part of the draw for many fair visitors.

Creative direction & concept development
Production, logistics & supplier management
Recruitment & training
Catering & operations