Master sommeliers Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney are teaming up to open a restaurant in the City of London, after securing the Be At One site in Gresham Street in the City.
The pair plan to open a French restaurant serving wines from around the world on the two-storey site later this summer.
Last week, former Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons head sommelier Rousset, told MCA’s sister title BigHospitality that he would consider opening more restaurants following the launch of his first solo project.
Blandford Comptoir, his Mediterranean restaurant serving 250 different wines, will open in Marylebone next month.
“I would like to expand the Comptoir format, but if I did it open more sites it would not be the same as this one,” Rousset said. “I don’t want it to be a copy and paste concept, but it would have similarities. There would always be a focus on wine.”
Between them Rousset and Devaney, both Master Sommeliers, have worked in a host of Michelin-starred restaurants. Devaney, who was named Sommelier of the Year in 2008, started as an apprentice at The Capital Hotel in London before working in France for Pierre Gagnaire and then at Tom Aikens’ eponymous restaurant.
After leaving Le Manoir, Rousset set up Texture and 28-50 Restaurant Group with chef Agnar Sverrisson, but he left the business last year to pursue his own projects.
Restaurant Property acted on the Gresham Street site.
