NEW VENTURE FOR THE CITY OF LONDON
Ashraf Rahman, former business development director at the Indian Restaurant Group (IRG), is to open his first solo venture, Spice Rack in London later this month.
Rahman has acquired the former Singapura / Paradigm at 78/79 Leadenhall Street in the City for Spice Rack, which will specialise in dishes from North India.
IRG, the restaurant operator previously known as the Mela Group ..........
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CAPAROSSA DEBUT IN PUTNEY
The people behind one of the most successful restaurants in Naples, La Fattoria del Campiglione, have taken the former Tootsies unit adjacent Carluccio’s on the river in Putney Wharf and will name it Caparossa.
The restaurant measures approximately 2,544 sq ft / 236 sq m internally and 420 sq ft / 39 sq m externally and will boast some 85 internal and 50 external covers. There will also be a temperature controlled cured meat display cabinet and a glass fronted cellar facing the seating area that will boast around 1,500 – 2,000 bottles ......
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KUA ‘AINA DEBUT IN LONDON ASSISTED BY SELSIAN
Kua ‘Aina, Hawaiian Burger and Sandwich Grill has opened its doors in London’s trendy Carnaby district in an off market deal. It is based on the original restaurant found on Hawaii’s North Shore which opened in 1975 and will serve char grilled sandwiches and salads.
The group which boasts some 20 stores in Hawaii, Japan and now London, secured a new lease with the landlords Shaftsbury on the 1,200 sq ft unit (111 sq m) for a rent of £50,000 per annum.......
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SELSIAN ASSIST CHOZEN WITH SAMURAI SUSHI ACQUISITION
Chozen Venues, the group led by former Mongolian Barbeque MD John Dodds, have purchased four Samurai Sushi sites in central London after the privately owned Japanese takeaway operator had fallen into administration earlier this week.
The units are located on Shaftesbury Avenue, Baker Street, Holborn and London Wall.
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THIRD TEMPLE FOR THE CITY THANKS TO SELSIAN
Posh Foods, the company led by Bijal Patel, has acquired its third site in London for its sandwich shop brand Temples.
The company, which also operates the last remaining Fuzzy Grubs site in Fleet Street, has purchased the lease of Jonathan’s in Cullum Street in the City, for an undisclosed premium. Posh simultaneously took a new 10 year lease direct from the landlord at £35,000 pax for the unit that extends to approximately 1,000 sq ft over ground and basement.
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SELSIAN HELP PREZZO WITH AMBITIOUS EXPANSION
Prezzo, the Italian restaurant chain-led by Jonathan Kaye, has acquired the freehold of a restaurant / bar in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, from Enterprise Inns, which will become the group’s 16th site in the county.
The restaurant, which is due to open in July, will accommodate approximately 90 covers on the ground floor, benefits from a large terrace at the rear and first floor trading with a roof terrace. The property ......
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PIZZA KITCHEN ARRIVES IN BLUEWATER
The former Villa Pizza unit in Bluewater’s Wintergarden has been let to The Chozen Venues and will trade under the Pizza Kitchen brand. This adds to the groups existing outlets in ExCel Exhibition centre and McArthurGlen Designer Outlets with brands such as Wrapid, The Mongolian Barbeque, Chozen Noodle, Panini Pronto & The Tavern Gastro Pub.
Pizza Kitchen Bluewater extends to approximately 800 sq ft ......
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BENITO’S HAT – TRICK ASSISTED BY SELSIAN
Benito’s Hat Mexican Kitchen, the London-based Mexican restaurant, is opening a third site in London, near Oxford Circus.
The new restaurant on Great Castle Street will be the group's largest to date, featuring a 40-cover ground floor and a 20-cover basement section ......
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SELSIAN HELPS BRING A TOUCH OF PARIS TO EARLSFIELD
Kazan’s restaurant at 607-609 Garratt Lane has been sold to Nella Restaurants Limited who currently operate 2 restaurants in Paris.
Kazan’s traded as a Turkish restaurant with an open charcoal barbeque pit traded for over 7 years when it closed its’ doors in. The 2,400 sq ft restaurant ......
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SELSIAN ASSIST MALCOLM JOHN TO OPEN IN PUTNEY
Malcolm John is has secured a deal to open his 5th restaurant in a property located at 200-204 Putney Bridge Road, a short walk from Putney High Street.
John’s restaurants include Brasserie Vacherin in Sutton, Le Vacherin in Chiswick and Fish & Grill and Le Cassoulet both in Croydon. John’s new venture will be his second Fish & Grill ......
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NEW FROZEN YOGHURT VENTURE TO HIT BATTERSEA’S NORTHCOTE ROAD
Fat Face Kids on Northcote Road has been sold to Samba Swirl.
The 450 sq ft property is the first for Samba Swirl who have been looking for a suitable property for over a year. Samba Swirl managed to secure the site despite strong competition ......
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JACKETS IN CLAPHAM SOLD AFTER 27 YEARS OF TRADE
Jackets, a restaurant on the vibrant Clapham High Street SW4, which opened in 1983 has been sold to an independent operator. Jackets which benefits from a strong local following will continue to trade as a jacket potato restaurant.
The restaurant which comprises the entire building totalling approximately 2,700 sq ft ......
WILLIAM HILL TAKE HOLBORN CAFE
On behalf of an independent operator Selsian have successfully sold the leasehold interest of Café Moko Holborn.
William Hill are the new leaseholders of the unit which is just minutes away from Holborn Tube Station. The property extends to approximately 600 sq ft and is rented at £25,000 pax .......
SHIKARA IN CHELSEA SOLD TO EXPERIENCED ITALIAN RESTAURATEUR
Shikara, an Indian restaurant concept on Sloane Avenue in Chelsea, has been sold for an undisclosed premium, in an off market deal.
Luigi Venosi, an Italian restaurateur who used to run 2 sites on Wardour Street Soho, one which he sold to Inamo, the pan-Asian concept, has acquired the 1,800 sq ft unit, which is adjacent to Goucho Grill ........
SELSIAN SELLS MILTON KEYNES RESTAURANT TO TURTLE BAY
Dim T has successfully sold its site in The Hub, Milton Keynes to Turtle Bay Restaurants, the new concept headed by Ajith Jaya-Wickrema, the founder of the Las Iguanas chain.
The Restaurant lease was disposed of, for an undisclosed premium at a rent .......
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SELSIAN SELLS TRAFALGAR SQUARE CAFFE
On behalf of a long established private, multiple central London operator, Selsian have secured the leasehold sale of Caffe Strand for an undisclosed sum.
The Caffe, situated at the Trafalgar Square end of Strand in London’s West End, was in the same ownership for over 25 years and was placed on the market as part of a retirement plan ......
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SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR SECURES SITE IN LONDON'S WEST END THROUGH SELSIAN
Selsian has recently acquired an A1 unit on Great Marlborough Street just off Carnaby Street for John Vincent, one of the founders of the healthy fast food chain Leon. The new concept called Flat Planet offers wheat-free spelt flatbreads with a variety of toppings available for both take away and eat in. The 'flats' are based on an old English recipe.
Selsian acting on Vincent's behalf agreed a new 10 year lease from landlord Shaftesbury Estate for the 1000 sq ft unit which opened in November and trades over the ground and basement levels.
SELSIAN HELPS PIZZA EXPRESS ACQUIRE HERNE HILL MELA RESTAURANT
Gondola Holdings, the casual dining group that operates the ASK, Zizzi & Pizza Express brands, has acquired the former Mela Restaurant in Herne Hill in South London for an undisclosed sum which it will open it later in the year.
The Indian Restaurant Group, formerly known as the Mela Group, had owned the restaurant - but the subsidiary company responsible for the site, Param Consultancy .......
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SELSIAN ASSIST INDIAN ZING IN SECURING THEIR 3RD UNIT ON THE SITE OF A FORMER ANTONY WORRALL THOMPSON RESTAURANT
The man behind Indian Zing, the London Indian restaurant that is a favourite of Michael Winner, is to open a third site. Manoj Vasaiker has taken the leasehold interest of a former Antony Worrall Thompson restaurant, The Barnes Grill on Rocks Lane in Barnes and intends to open it as Indian Zilla.
The 2,380 sq ft restaurant – which Vasaiker said will feature a shorter menu - is set to reopen on August 15, Indian Independence Day. The site has been obtained for ........
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BINDER LINES UP SECOND SITE IN THE CITY WITH THE HELP OF SELSIAN
Simon Binder, the man behind Luc’s Brassierie and Café Med, is set to open his second site in The City of London, called Bar Battu, which will be The City’s first natural wine bar. www.barbattu.com
The European bar and bistro arranged over 3 floors, will hold an 80-cover wine bar and dining space, while the first floor will provide additional seating for 40. The outlet will be opened at 48 Gresham Street on the site of the former Molloy’s close to both The Guildhall and The Bank of England. The 3,925 sq ft restaurant & bar was let on a new effective FR&I lease for a term of 25 years and at a rent of £80,000 per annum. The property agents Selsian brokered the deal on behalf of Binder.
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LEICESTER SQUARE RESTAURANT ACQUIRED BY SELSIAN
FOR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN OPERATOR
On behalf of an independent operator, Selsian have successfully secured the former Ciao Pizza unit on Great Newport Street in London’s West End and theatre district, amidst stiff competition and numerous offers.
The restaurant is located just east of Leicester Square between Charing Cross Road and Longacre and extends to approximately 2,500 square feet / 232 sq metres, is arranged over ground and basement with a rent of £100,000 per annum.
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SELSIAN SELL TAPAS VARIADAS ON NORTHCOTE ROAD BATTERSEA
The leasehold interest of the Tapas Variadas restaurant at 124 Northcote Road, SW11, has been sold to an independent operator who intends to relaunch the site as French brasserie called Bistro Delicat.
The restaurant was purchased at a premium of £72,000 by Erik Amer, who formerly developed a catering concept for Red Bull Racing, a Formula One team with 180 team members, which hosted up to 8,000 VIP guests throughout a race weekend.......
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CARLUCCIO’S ACQUIRE WIMBLEDON VILLAGE RESTAURANT THROUGH SELSIAN
Carluccio’s, the Italian restaurant and deli chain, has acquired a new site in Wimbledon Village from Say Gourmet for an undisclosed sum from an asking price of £250,000.
The company, which is led by Simon Kossoff, will rebrand the former 2,500 sq ft Say Café on the high street and expects to commence trading in February 2010 ......
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SELSIAN ACQUIRES AL’S BAR ON EXMOUTH MARKET EC1
FOR A START UP FRONTED BY THE PROVIDORS HEAD CHEF
Al’s bar in London’s trendy Exmouth Market, Islington, has been sold to Caravan, a new start-up restaurant, bar and coffee roasting concept, for an undisclosed sum.
Caravan will incorporate a brasserie style restaurant & bar combined with an in-house coffee roasting business.
The kitchen team will be led by Miles Kirby, former head chef of The Providores ...........
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SELSIAN ACQUIRES NORTHCOTE ROAD RESTAURANT FOR CATTLEGRID
Cattle Grid, the fast casual steakhouse chain, is to launch its third site at the end of November in London’s Clapham Junction.
The company, which is owned by Steve Novak and Shaun Grey, has acquired the former Le Taj Indian restaurant at 76 Northcote Road, SW11 for a rent of £50,000 per annum ......
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SELSIAN HELPS HELL PIZZA OPENS THIRD UK SITE
Hell Pizza, the New Zealand-based pizza chain, has opened its third site in the UK in Clapham Junction and number 23 Lavender Hill, SW11.
Guy Butterfield, a new franchisee, acquired the outlet on Lavender Hill and has launched it as a 20-cover restaurant. takeaway and delivery outlet ........
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SELSIAN SELLS 1 BATTERSEA RISE ON BEHALF OF SAY GOURMET
Say Gourmet, the restaurant company founded by chef Carl Say and John Laycock, has sold its Say Pasta outlet in Battersea to bar and restaurant operator Ali Bilal.
Bilal, who operates the sushi restaurant and cocktail bar Kumo in Knightsbridge, acquired the site on Battersea Rise from a guide price of £50,000.
He plans to reopen the 1,700sq ft site as a Mexican and Cuban cantina called Cucarachas .......
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GLENDOLA SELLS OCTAVE IN COVENT GARDEN TO MARKET CAFÉ LTD
Glendola Leisure, the managed operator of bars, clubs and restaurants, has sold the Octave jazz bar and restaurant in Covent Garden to Market Café for an undisclosed sum, off an asking price of offers in excess of £100,000.
The father and son team behind the Market Café company also run Fuel in the Covent Garden Piazza and plan to launch the newly acquired site as a party venue called Circus.
The 5,000 sq ft site on Endell Street.........
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SELSIAN SELLS MONGOLIAN BARBECUE IN LONDON’S COVENT GARDEN
The founders of the Mongolian Barbeque chain have sold their last remaining UK site in London’s Covent Garden to restaurant and bar operator Corrett Restaurants.
The 3,800sq ft unit on Maiden Lane was acquired by Paul Corrett, who also owns the Big Easy in Fulham and Maggiore in Covent Garden, for a positive premium with annual rent of £225,000.
Corrett plans to turn the venue into a second Big Easy as part of a rollout of the US-style restaurant and sports and music bar brand....
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SELSIAN SELLS TUNBRIDGE WELLS DIM T
Tasty PLC, the operator of the Dim T chain of restaurants has sold its site in Tunbridge Wells to an independent Italian operator.
The building was disposed off for a nil premium and a sub lease of £90,000 after the company said in May last year that it had decided to impair the value of the outlet due to its performance falling below expectations....
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