Hotel Chocolat, the premium chocolate retailer and café operator, is understood to be close to securing a site in London’s Spitalifields for its first UK restaurant.
It is thought that talks are at an advanced stage on a site for the the new restaurant, which will be branded Boucan London, with an opening doe a c120-cover unit mooted for August.
Chief executive Angus Thirlwell announced last year that after the success of the company’s first restaurant which opened up in St Lucia on its plantation the group had been inspired to open a similar project in the UK.
He said: “The menu is creative, original, shows real flair and our guests are really liking it. We have got a shortlist of London locations we are looking at.”
Michelin-starred executive chef Jon Bentham, who has worked with celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, had been lined up to lead the staff at the London outpost.
