Entrepreneur Robin Birley, owner of private members’ club, Number 5 Hertford Street, is planning to open a new restaurant and wine member’s club in Mayfair next year, MCA understands.
It is thought that Birley has set up a new company Winter Restaurants to oversee the new project, which has applied to open on the ground floor and basement of 25 Albemarle Street.
MCA understands the new venture has a working title of Oswald’s, perhaps a nod to his grandfather – Sir Oswald Birley, the English portrait painter.
Speculation has been building for a while that Birley was looking to open a further member’s club in Mayfair.
It was believed he was looking at opening at 13 Albemarle Street, which initially housed the historic The Albemarle club, which was established as a ‘progressive’ private members gentleman’s club after being founded in 1874. The club was a haunt of Oscar Wilde.
5 Hertford Street opened in June 2012 after a £30m building and refurbishment programme.
Birley also owns Birley Sandwiches, the 14-strong chain of sandwich bars spread across City of London and Canary Wharf.
