Living Ventures plans to launch Oast House and Australasia in London

04-Jul-2012 - Last updated on 24-Apr-2024 at 12:43 GMT

Tim Bacon, co-founder of Living Ventures is looking to open more sites under the Oast House and Australasia brands this year

Manchester-based restaurant, bar and pub group Living Ventures will launch a number of its newest brands in London, according to the company's co-founder Tim Bacon.

London will be the location for the second Oast House, Living Ventures' pub concept modelled around a 16th Century building used for drying hops.

The first site was launched in Manchester's Spinningfields business district last year, with a number of openings currently on the table.

The company's 'casual fine-dining' concept Australasia, currently in Manchester, is also being slated for launch in the capital, with locations in both the City and the West End being considered. Edinburgh is another capital city mooted as a potential destination for the brand.

Bacon also believes that Australasia, which serves 'modern Australian cuisine with Pacific Rim flavours' could eventually expand overseas.

"From a dream perspective I would like to take it to places I go on holiday. I'd love to take it to Sydney - and New York would also be an option. I'm not a great one for international development but with [Australasia] I can see this possibly happening," he said.

Bacon was speaking to Restaurant magazine for this month's Business Profile and just as the company was also due to launch its latest project Manchester House, set up with the aim of gaining the group a Michelin star.

"As I sit here now, the aim is to get a star," he said. "There's no other reason for doing it. It's not about making money. If, in two years' time, it's successful and profitable but hasn't got its star then I'll probably be going 'hey, who needs one?' But it's more about extending the dining range in Manchester."

See the July issue of Restaurant magazine for more from Bacon in the Living Ventures Business Profile.