Former Gaucho director secures first M site

Martin Williams, who stepped down as managing director of Gaucho earlier this year, has secured the first site for his new restaurant and bar venture M in the heart of the City of London.

The new venture has secured the unit formerly trading as La Bourse in Threadneedle Walk for an opening this November.

Williams has raised £2.4m of investment from a consortium of entrepreneurs and private investors (who are from a variety of sectors, but include prominent personalities in media and finance) to fund the launch of M.

The Threadneedle Walk venue will be the first of three initial venues and the company is currently in negotiations with landlords of the remaining two locations.

The venue will boast a destination cocktail bar, wine tasting space, two 90-cover restaurants M-GRILL and M- RAW, plus private dining and events spaces.

M RAW is a casual dining concept which will serve breakfast and fast accessible small plates from its Sashimi, Salad, Oyster and Ceviche Bars.

M GRILL is an international restaurant specialising in the ‘best steak cuts from across the world’ and will offer a single cut from six selected countries ranging from £25 to £139 in price.

M Restaurants’ Executive Chef has been named as Michael Reid, currently head chef of the newly opened Jardin Tan (Vue de Monde group) in Melbourne, formerly executive chef of Gaucho Restaurants and whose background includes GRH.

M BAR, is a bar concept designed by Lance Perkins, currently bars and beverage director of the Edition Hotel which he designed and opened nine months ago.

M will also offer a range of private dining and event spaces for parties of eight to 50.

Williams said: “We are embracing the growing market in the city for group dining, by creating a number of very different, exciting spaces and menu offerings which cater for a diverse range of corporate entertaining needs.”

Opening in November, M is working with strategic exclusive partners to launch the pre booking of the restaurant in late September.

Restaurant Property acted in the deal.

This story was first published in M&C Report. To subscribe, contact Emily Croft on 01293 846 578 or email emily.croft@wrbm.com.