Jamie Barber, the operator of the Hush brand, is to launch a new Brazilian concept in London called Cabana after teaming up with David Ponte, founder of the Momo and Mocoto restaurants, M&C Report has learnt.
Barber and Momo co-founder Ponte have raised £2.5m toward the launch of concept, which will open later this year at the Central St Giles development. It is believed that the first round of fund raising for the new venture was over subscribed.
The pair have taken the 3,430sq ft Unit 9 at the development, which recently also signed up Union Jacks, Jamie Oliver’s pizza-style concept, on a 15-year lease.
Barber said: “I have no doubt that Central Saint Giles will become an exciting and vibrant eating hub much along the lines of St Christopher’s place and I am delighted that we have secured a great site with great neighbours.”
Barber sold Sake No Hana, the Japanese fine dining restaurant in London, which he owned with Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev, to Hakkasan Limited, the group led by Niall Howard, for an undisclosed sum in June this year
The deal was the third sale by Barber in as many months and followed the sale of his Villandry business to Philippe Le Roux, and the two-strong chain Kitchen Italia to the Kout Food Group. The total value of the three deals was thought to be in excess of £12m.
It is thought that Barber is also looking at opportunities to open smaller versions of the original Hush, which he opened in Mayfair over 10 years ago.
Born in Sao Paulo in 1965, Ponte, formerly co-owned Moroccan restaurant Momo in Heddon Street with Mourad Mazouz.
In January 2007, he opened Mocoto, which was described a “London's first ever truly modern Brazilian venue”, in Knightsbridge. It closed later that year, with Ponte selling his shares in the business.
Simon Wilkes head of development at Legal & General Property, which owns the mixed-used scheme with the Mitsubishi Estate Company, said: “We feel very honoured that both Jamie Oliver and Jamie Barber have chosen Central Saint Giles as the launch pad for two very exciting new concepts. It is a fantastic endorsement of the quality of the scheme’s architecture and justifies the attention given to creating such an attractive public realm.”
Restaurant Property and Bruce Gillingham Pollard are advising on Central Saint Giles.
