The chef opened Bistro Union, a 40-cover neighbourhood British restaurant, in February last year in a site on Abbeville Road, just a short walk from Trinity.
Since then Byatt has made no secret of his desire to open more venues under the concept, but speaking to BigHospitality this week he confirmed he was now close to securing a second venue in South London.
“We are looking to open another Bistro Union, we are just trying to find the right site which I think we have done,” he revealed. “We want to do two or three."
“It has to be geographically right for me to get to with ease; all of my team live in South London, we know it, it knows us and I have no desire to venture North or Central.”
If all goes well the chef is hoping to confirm on the site by the end of the year with a view to opening in spring 2014.
Trinity refurb
With mains averaging £15, Bistro Union is a very different restaurant to Trinity.
While the former serves brunch and offers Toad in the Hole and Mac ‘n’ Cheese, the latter remains Byatt’s fine-dining offering and specialises in seasonal tasting menus which have continued to grow in popularity since the venue launched in 2006.
As well as preparing for the expansion of Bistro Union, Byatt is also kept busy with TV projects and a planned refurb of Trinity.
“We are doing a massive refurb at Trinity in conjunction with the Clapham Old Town Regeneration Project,” he explained.
“We are hoping to get some seats outside, we are putting a private room upstairs on the first floor and we are possibly going to take the toilet block opposite and do some kind of offering in there as well."
Legacy
Earlier this year, Byatt also gave his financial backing to ex-Noma chef Tom Sellers who opened Story restaurant in Bermondsey. The restaurateur revealed he was planning to back another young chef next year and said his role was about giving Sellers support.
“I don’t need to give Tom (Sellers) that much advice but having someone there who will catch you when you fall over is really important.
“It is fantastic to be involved in young guys and we have got another similar sort of venture planned with another young kid. If I can leave a legacy in some little way then ‘Hallelujah’,” he added.