Where to Eat Near the Olympic Park

By Claire Coleman

After all the Jubilee excitement, we've gone from being slightly curmudgeonly about the Olympics to being completely excited. And given that the opening ceremony is less than two months away, we thought it might be a good time for a quick look at where to eat if you're planning on getting involved (or if you're visiting from elsewhere).

As you may - or may not - know, McDonalds is a major sponsor of the Olympics. No other branded food is allowed to be sold at Olympic venues, and rules about what you can take in are pretty strict, with organisers threatening to confiscate so-called ‘excessive food.’ Meaning, you might be able to take a sandwich in, but a picnic hamper? Forget about it. And by the sounds of things, once inside the gates, things ain't going to be cheap - we're hearing talk of a fiver for a smoked salmon sandwich. So, with this in mind, it makes sense to plan to eat before you actually get into the event. In the run-up to the Games, we'll be looking at some of the areas in London that will be hosting the big event, and suggesting decent eating options.

First up, the Olympic Park itself. Until recently, Stratford - where many of the main events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, the athletics and many of the water sports, will take place - wasn't exactly a culinary hot spot. But the relatively new Westfield shopping centre that's virtually on the steps of the park has changed all of that. A number of decent chains and chainlets have moved in, offering options aplenty. Below is a quick rundown of some of our favourites in the centre where you'll be able to grab a good bite before the event. But make sure you keep an eye out for news from eat.st, the street-food collective that's aiming to have a presence close to many of the Olympic sites over the summer.