It’s all heating up in Mayfair. Restaurateur Omar Saideh, founder of Orange Hospitality, has locked spatulas with the designers of Il Borro, haunt of socialites such as the Marchioness of Bath.
During the pandemic, Saideh enlisted design firm BAH Projects to build the interior of Il Borro, which promises “authentic Tuscan flavours” and serves up dishes such as tagliatelle al tartufo for £41.
BAH fitted a stone staircase and laid down a floor of Italian timber. Some three years on, it is still chasing Saideh for almost £1 million in fees.
The dispute went to an adjudicator, who ruled that Saideh has to pay up. Saideh blamed the pandemic for his tardiness — but eyebrows were raised when he opened another restaurant in France last November. Saideh said the new venture was separate from the dispute.
BAH said: “For the last few years, there has been a lot of stalling, including opening a restaurant in Paris while we were chasing the outstanding amount.”
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