The directors behind a specialist duck restaurant in London’s Clerkenwell are plotting another two London sites.
Richard Humphreys and his father David Humphreys, along with family friend Paul Luke, opened Monsieur le Duck in Clerkenwell Road on May 9.
The format aims to provide “the heart of Gascony in the heart of London”, with a short menu that includes several versions of duck with a variety of sides and something for vegetarians.
The three directors are keen to expand to another two sites in London as soon as the right sites become available – one in Soho and one in West London, Richard Humphreys told MCA.
“We are keeping our eyes open definitely to opportunities. We are being vigilant about what’s happening in the market. London can take at least two of these quite easily. I don’t want to miss an opportunity so if it happens sooner rather than later we are definitely going to be in the game for it.”
The Clerkenwell restaurant has 45 covers downstairs and it will open a private dining room on July 11 upstairs with a bar. It could also be used for overflow from downstairs with potential for another 40 covers.
Humphreys said a second unit could be self-funded but if it were to do another two in quick succession they would have to take on some private equity funding for the third restaurant.
