French Kitchen, a new bistro and food store brand, has been launched by Relish Restaurants at the two former Villandry Kitchen sites in London, M&C Report has learnt.
Relish, which is led by managing director Ed Standring, joined forces with Villandry founder Jamie Barber to launch the Kitchen format, a smaller version of the original Villandry venture in June 2009.
However, Barber has now stepped away from the business after also selling his stake in the two larger Villandry restaurants in Great Portland Street and Bicester Village, to Philippe Le Roux, the entrepreneur who bought Le Pain Quotidien to the UK, for an undisclosed sum last week.
Le Roux plans to develop a chain of sites under the brand.
M&C Report understands that Barber is working on another restaurant project that he hopes to unveil at the end of this year.
Relish currently operates four restaurants in the capital under the Café Pasta brand. Open all day, the new French Kitchen sites feature food stores, private dining areas and menus with a main course costing on average £16.
Barber has sold the two sites he operated under the mid-market format Kitchen Italia in Covent Garden and in London's Westfield shopping centre, to the brands’ main investors the Kuwait-based Kout Food Group.
Kout also backs the 14-strong Maison Blanc chain and the Cha Cha Moon restaurant in London, have acquired the two sites.
Speaking to M&C Report, Barber said: “These deals work for all parties and I am looking forward to working on a another project.”
It is thought the sale of the Villandry business will also allow Barber to concentrate on the expansion of his Hush restaurant and bar brand.
Speaking to M&C Report in February, Barber confirmed he was looking at sites of around 3,500sq ft in the capital to open smaller versions of the original Hush, which he opened in Mayfair, over 10 years ago.
Barber also co-owns and runs Sake No Hana in St James’s.
Specialist advisor Coffer Corporate Leisure acted on behalf of Le Roux in regards to the Villandry deal.
