A round up of the moves of the newsworthy in the world of hospitality
Too expensive to run?
Financier Adrian Burford once told a court: “I make no apology for being quite expensive to run”. He invested some £1.1 million buying shares in the Sushinho Japanese-Mexican restaurant on the Kings Road. The company’s website now states: “We are sorry to inform you that our restaurants have closed” and their former premises are up for rent for £185,000 per annum through Miles Commercial. Plainly Burford’s mantra wasn’t that appealing.
An institution that should have been
The Brompton Bar & Grill should have become a Knightsbridge institution but sadly it closes on Friday, 21st March. Owner Francois O’Neill and his personable team ran this consistently excellent bistro for six years and announced its demise in an email to customers. O’Neill stated: “We are currently working on a new project that we aim to launch in the Spring of 2015”.
Hawking Frankie
Round the corner, the former Frankie’s site in Yeoman’s Row is being transformed into a fifth site for the popular Hawksmoor restaurant group. A press statement from the company tells diners to expect: “A bit of old school glamour and atmosphere and another menu that revolves around what we do best – amazing steaks from ethically reared British cattle and a few surprise dishes and cocktails which we’re currently perfecting”. The restaurant is expected to open in June.
Firing a 50th
Daphne’s in Draycott Avenue remains closed after its extraction system went up in flames on the 25th February. The Richard Caring owned Italian plainly now requires significant renovation. For at least a week after the fire, the smell of smoke was apparent to anyone passing by. Given that 2014 is the 50th anniversary of Daphne Rye opening this popular Chelsea haunt, the timing of the fire was certainly most unfortunate. Where will the ladies of SW3 lunch in the meantime?
In Toto
Toto’s on Lennox Garden Mews looks set to reopen shortly. Though the building workers wouldn’t tell us exactly what will be on the site, we could spot a substantial granite bar in the entrance. The firm who own the premises are named Walton Hospitality.
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