Parliamentary Waffle House to open during election run-up

The Parliamentary Waffle House, an election based bar and eatery by Bompas & Parr will open at 65-67 Broadwick Street, London on 22nd April 2010.

Each item on the menu will orderable in a variation corresponding to one of the three major political parties.  Orders will feed directly into a live action swing ‘o’ meter that gages the mood of the country as people vote with their mouths.

The waffles are made using custom-built irons that employ technology commonly used in the fabrication of fighter jet engines. They were as part of a research programme run by Bompas & Parr in conjunction with Central Saint Martins MA Future Textiles.

Visitors will be asked to don special hats to demarcate their political allegiance. A soap-box and memo wall will be provided for partisans to air their view. Non-stop political coverage will be screened so drinkers and diners are up to speed. The Parliamentary Waffle House will also host the Museum of Food vs Politics. Exhibits include Tony Blair’s face on a melted cheese sandwich, a step by step guide to Thatcher’s Egg Diet and the wrapper of the notorious Gummer burger.

In the evenings the Parliamentary Waffle House will host a programme of politics and food related entertainment. Think Tank Thowdowns see top ideas men battle for supremacy, there will be screenings of political films like In the Loop and special lobbying nights where we give the public access to the parliamentary big boys. On election night itself there will be an all night vigil with celebratory booze for the victors and tea and sympathy for the losers.

In terms of design the installation unites the perpendicular gothic style of Charles Barry’s Houses of Parliament with the gothic styling and typography of waffle houses across Europe. Interestingly Barry’s system based architecture mirrors the processes involved in waffle making and the portcullis logo of the Houses of Parliament looks like a waffle.

Harry Parr, partner of Bompas & Parr LLP comments:

“At the Parliamentary Waffle House politician’s can reach out and touch voter’s most sensitive organ: their bellies. We are looking forward to seeing lots of MPs pop down. Qualifying members of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group can even drink for free.”