Sir Terence Conran, the design, retail and restaurant entrepreneur, has signalled the rollout of Albion – his “British Carluccio’s” concept – by capturing a second site.
M&C Report understands that the concept will open at Wilton Road in London’s Victoria in the spring, and that Conran is in negotiations on a further two sites, thought to be in Covent Garden and Regent’s Park
The 3,000sq ft site – owned by Land Securities – was secured on a 20-year lease through Prescott Partners, a three-way partnership with his sister Priscilla and Peter Prescott, a former operations director at D&D London.
Shelley Sandzer handled the deal for Prescott Partners.
The Albion concept made its debut in Shoreditch last year as part of a development that also included the Boundary fine-dining eaterie.
Conran recently said he believed Albion could work throughout London and beyond. He said: “If you look at Albion it is in many ways a British version of Carluccio’s with a small shop and a café. But it makes bread instead of pasta and has well known British dishes on the menu.
“It is also a bit cheaper with an average spend of £10 to £12.”
He plans to invest £15m on the initial rollout of the concept.
His sister Priscilla was previously married to Antonio Carluccio, and she was instrumental in the launch and initial expansion of the eponymous Italian café and retail concept.
