Bold, Glamorous, Cantonese China Tang Arrives

China Tang makes its Middle East debut at The Lana Promenade—led by Nathalie Ford, Natasha Abbas, and Mark Hampson—bringing signature Cantonese glamour and craftsmanship to Dubai

When the forces unite—Nathalie Ford, VP Europe and Middle East at China Tang; Natasha Abbas, Director of Project Management at North 51 Consulting; and Mark Hampson, Senior Projects Manager at Havelock One—it gives rise to China Tang’s first Middle East venture at The Lana Promenade. A Cantonese icon arrives in Dubai, full of signature glamour and serious craft.

Design Middle East sat down with the dream team behind the dazzling new China Tang at The Lana Promenade, Dorchester Collection— Nathalie Ford from China Tang, Mark Hampson of Havelock One, and Natasha Abbas from North 51 Consulting—to chat duck ovens, mirrored ceilings, and what it really takes to bring an iconic brand to life in Dubai’s luxury scene.

There’s something instantly recognisable about China Tang: old-school glamour, lacquered wood, dramatic lighting, and whispers of Mayfair-meets-Hong Kong opulence. So, when we heard the brand was setting up shop in Dubai—at The Lana Promenade, no less—we had to get the inside scoop.

China Tang Dubai marks the brand’s first foray into the Middle East, nestled inside Dorchester Collection’s newest ultra-luxury address. It’s a statement across 8,000sqft. of considered design, spanning two floors, complete with a showpiece duck oven, private dining, and a moody cocktail lounge.

So how do you take a legacy brand like China Tang and reimagine it for a new audience in a new city, while keeping its heart and soul intact? That’s where Nathalie, Mark and Natasha come in.

THE ORIGIN STORY

“It was an obvious choice,” says Nathalie Ford, VP of Europe and Middle East for China Tang. “When we learned the Dorchester Collection was opening The Lana in Dubai, we knew we had to join them here as well.” The brand’s original Mayfair location opened in 2005, and has since grown a cult following for its Cantonese classics, understated luxury, and signature sense of occasion.

But Nathalie insists this isn’t a carbon copy. Our signature item—our duck oven—is truly unique to this Dubai location and visible as soon as guests enter the reception area. We believe our guests will truly enjoy it.”

And that’s not all. “The main dining area, with double-height ceilings, offers stunning marina views. On the third floor, we have our intimate lounge, accompanied by private dining rooms,” she adds. It’s a layered experience—spacious yet intimate, theatrical yet considered.

MAKING IT HAPPEN, THE DUBAI WAY

On the ground, Natasha Abbas, Projects Director at North 51 Consulting, has been steering the ship. And it’s been a long voyage. “Since Q1 2023, North 51 Consulting has been instrumental in shaping China Tang at The Lana Promenade,” she tells us. “Our early involvement paved the way for strategic design adaptation, seamlessly integrating the concept across two floors while aligning with the landlord’s fit-out guidelines and local authority compliance.”

Sounds straightforward? It wasn’t.

“Coordinating a project across multiple time zones—London, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Shanghai—required a hands-on, proactive approach,” she says. “North 51 Consulting engaged in over 200 team calls, delivered 30 project progress dashboards, and managed over 100 GB of email correspondence.”

Add to that more than 100 site visits, and what you get is a seriously involved team. “Every thought, discussion, and approval was documented,” Natasha continues. “This helped align global stakeholders and deliver the design intent with zero compromise.”

On the tools was Mark Hampson, Senior Projects Manager at Havelock One—the turnkey fit-out contractor responsible for executing the vision. And as anyone in hospitality fit-out knows, it’s not just about building something beautiful; it’s about building it smart.

“As the design evolved and materials and finishes were adapted and changed, this brought challenges to the site team,” Mark explains. “We worked closely with North 51 Consulting, Panorama, and the contractors on the detailing and interfacing of various materials.”

A prime example? The illuminated feature wall. “It went through several phases of development to achieve the correct balance of colour and light,” says Mark. “We created a number of full-size glass panel options to ensure the final finish was perfect.”

And the proactive approach didn’t end there. “The acoustic glass partition separating the upper lounge
from the dining room needed design modifications to ensure optimal performance, with joints aligned to match the decorative frames suspended across its length.”

Then there was the lounge ceiling. “It’s illuminated and mirrored, and with restricted space in the ceiling void, we had to create a robust structure to accommodate both existing and new services,” Mark adds. “This was accomplished through coordination between various trades on-site.” No easy feat—but the result is the kind of ceiling guests casually photograph mid-meal.

CULTURAL CHOREOGRAPHY
At the heart of China Tang is its food. “Our entire team has been trained in China by our executive chef, Chef Henry Zhang,” says Nathalie. “There’s a 23-strong team travelling to Dubai after a strenuous training period in China to deliver time-honoured and well-practised Chinese cooking methods, while using the best of local produce here in Dubai.”

So, while the décor is lavish and the views among the best in the city, it’s still all about the food—served with a healthy side of heritage.

But how do you keep that DNA intact across borders and stakeholders?

“The collaboration with all stakeholders was undoubtedly a challenge, largely because we were all international,” Nathalie admits. “North 51 was holding the fort for us here in Dubai, along with Havelock One. Our designer, Panorama, was based in Hong Kong, and I was based in London.

” Thank goodness for Zoom. “It meant endless meetings—one of the benefits of Covid is that we can do all these collaborations from miles away,” she adds. “With many meetings, we were able to achieve what we needed to execute the vision.”

And that vision? Nathalie says it’s all in the details. “The two things that stood out to me about how Havelock One operates and the quality of their execution— the beautiful reception desk, the joinery throughout, the service stations, the joinery in the guest bathrooms…plus their immaculate attention to detail on health and safety throughout the fit-out, which was unbelievably positive. Without that, nothing comes to fruition.”

THE FINAL WORD
When we ask what they’re most proud of, Natasha doesn’t hesitate. “At North 51 Consulting, we take immense pride in the passion we infuse into every project, and China Tang is no exception,” she says. “Transforming a shell-and-core space into a sophisticated dining experience required engineering expertise, including slab cutting and the installation of a guest lift to ensure connectivity between floors. Seeing it all come together at the end is always the best part for me!”

Mark echoes the sentiment, offering a behind-thescenes look at the process. “Loads of the big milestones on a project like this tend to go under the radar,” he tells us. “From the early structural work to get the elevator and stairs in place, to running drainage, getting the MEP in, closing floors, starting finishes—it’s all building up, layer by layer. But when you step back at the end and see how it’s all come together, that’s the real win.All that coordination, effort, and problem-solving—it just clicks into place. That’s the moment you feel proud.”

And collaboration, it turns out, is the golden thread running through the whole story. China Tang at The Lana Promenade isn’t just another restaurant opening—it’s a case study in how international brands, consultants, and contractors can come together (across continents and time zones) to create something worthy of both the skyline and the legacy it joins. China Tang at The Lana Promenade is now open for reservations. Come for the duck, stay for the design.

Image courtesy: Alex Jeffries Photography Group