The purchase of the glass-covered site in the Covent Garden Market Building was completed within the last month, a spokeswoman for Oliver confirmed. It was also confirmed that the leisure property consultancy firm Davis Coffer Lyons worked with Oliver to finalise the deal with the landlord of the site.
A spokeswoman for Oliver said: "We’re excited about the prospect and are currently in discussions. When more details become available, we will release them."
Although full details have not yet been finalised, it was also confirmed that a request for planning permission to erect a glass box within the site had been submitted to Westminster City Council but had not yet been granted.
Canteen
It is believed the site is likely to be opened as a Union Jacks concept, or a Jamie's Italian. The British restaurant chain Canteen had been operating a pop-up restaurant at the site since September last year.
At the time, Patrick Clayton-Malone, co-founder of Canteen told BigHospitality the Covent Garden site had been chosen because the company wanted to take advantage of a high footfall space without ‘the usual technical restraints and more flexibility’.
Gatwick and Winchester
Within the last month Oliver's restaurant business has revealed plans to make its airport debut at Gatwick and plans to open the first Union Jacks outside London in Winchester.
Expected to open by the Summer, the Union Jacks in Winchester will be the third site for the chef's British food and wood-fired flatbread restaurant concept.