Byblos Harbour on the Isle Of Dogs gets a lift with Kyrsten Perry's art

East London artists collaborates with Lebanese restaurateur Aboud Grimesty to cap refurb

Artwork by Kyrsten Perry at Byblos Harbour

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Lebanese restaurant Byblos Harbour has a long history of serving up colourful, flavourful dishes on the edge of Millwall Inner Dock.

The establishment serves a cuisine described by owner Aboud Grimesty as similar “to Turkish food” thanks to 400 years of occupation by the Turks, “but more refined” from a period of French influence and control from the early 20th century.

It’s been attracting diners to the Isle Of Dogs since opening its doors in 2008.

“We had a good plan and the financial crisis hit, but things got better until Covid came,” said Aboud, who lives in Canning Town.

“However, we carry on and we’re in good shape.

“When we opened, there was no authentic restaurant serving proper Lebanese food in east London, so I thought I’d give it a try.

“It’s a varied cuisine – after the occupation by the Turks, there was huge poverty so there’s lots of vegetarian food – people had to do a lot with a little.

“The menu is compact to keep things under control – you can order a range of starters and then a main course.

“My personal favourite is the mixed grill with chicken and lamb.”

a new look for Byblos Harbour

It’s clear when I pop in to interview Aboud that his connection to his customers is paramount.

The consummate host, he’s unfailingly attentive and frequently stopping to chat to regulars and newcomers alike.

On leaving, he presses a bottle of Lebanese red into my hands, telling me the country has the best wine in the world – how does he know?

It’s where Jesus pulled his infamous party trick with the water.

This closeness with his customers and the importance of his homeland sit perfectly in explaining the reason for my visit.

The restaurant has been refurbished recently

To cap off Byblos Harbour’s refurbishment, which has included the construction of a covered, heated and sheltered terrace for diners and shisha enthusiasts, Aboud called on a regular for some assistance with the interior of the restaurant.

“I came here about six months ago, and Aboub showed me his empty walls,” said Kyrsten Perry, an artist and Isle Of Dogs resident.

“He said he wanted to celebrate Byblos – the city from which the restaurant takes its name – so I asked him what the stand-out features of the city were and we went from there.

“It’s a port that’s been operating for about 7,000 years.

“I researched the history, found out all about its connections to the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks, the Phoenicians and its Roman ruins.

“These include an amphitheatre overlooking the ocean, but there’s also a 5,000-year-old pier with many restaurants nearby, which inspired Aboud initially.

“That’s how the collaboration began.”

creating the paintings

Kyrsten set about creating a series of watercolours from images of Byblos, with the collection recently unveiled at the restaurant.

“I wanted to capture what it must have been like in Roman times,” she said.

“Initially I thought I’d do a semi-aerial view, but it didn’t look right.

“I also didn’t want to do one of those big murals.

“It was really a collaboration. I’d send Aboud images and he’d like some and not others.

“We talked extensively about how the culture of the country has affected the food, the people and the whole atmosphere.

“To me, it was something uplifting and joyous.

“There have been so many awful things happening in that part of the world, I thought it would be great to create something positive.

“Aboud supports multiculturalism – people coming together.

“It’s been a real privilege to work with him because I can see what he’s trying to do.

“He brings people together with good food, good wine and good times.”

inspired by the water

Born in Cornwall, Kyrsten was brought up in Australia before returning to the UK, gravitating to the Isle Of Dogs after a stint running a venue in Islington.

In addition to her full-time job working for a Labour MP, the former Tower Hamlets councillor is a practising artist working from a studio in Roman Road.

“During the day we deal with a lot of people who are acutely desperate and in need of support,” she said.

“The art is a good counterbalance to that.

“Some friends and I share the studio and I’m absolutely in my element when I’m painting.

“I’ve really enjoyed the process of working with Aboud – I trust him and he’s got really good taste.

“When you’re in that creative process, trying something new, that’s really important.

“I’ve done lots of things in the past – I have two art degrees – but I’ve only really taken it seriously in the last couple of years.

“I’ve been doing the art class at the Shadwell Centre in Whitechapel and that’s how I met the friends I share the studio with.

“Something happens in that creative space which is very precious and I’ve felt that doing this project with Aboud.

“I’m certainly up for more commissions as I’ve finally got my website and Instagram sorted.

“I’m definitely looking for more opportunities to collaborate, but I’ll be doing my own thing as well.

“I really have to take my hat off to Aboud.

“Byblos Harbour is always reliable – my mum, who is originally from Streatham loves coming here with her friends when she visits from Australia.

“You know you’re getting good quality food and that it will be a fabulous day.

“Aboud has had to be creative over the years, to reinvent his restaurant but always with what the customer needs and wants in mind.

“I’ve known him for 10 years and I’ve always loved the food – having been a councillor, I know how much restaurants struggled over the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, so it’s fantastic that he’s adapted and is still delivering that quality.