White, who sold his Wheeler's of St James restaurant last year, said he was excited to be bringing the brand back to London.
He said: “The Wheeler’s brand was originally created in 1856 by Captain Wheeler in Whitstable. It was later brought to London’s Old Compton Street by Bernard Walsh and was regularly visited by, amongst others, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Walt Disney.
"It has a fascinating history as the oldest fish brand in the world and it’s great to be bringing it back to the City after a 20-year absence. As custodians of the name, the tradition and history will remain at the restaurant’s heart, but we’ve tweaked and evolved the menu to create an offer that is more in tune with what today’s customers want with lots of meat choices - it’s not just for fish lovers. I’m truly delighted Threadneedle Street will be the location for this new venture.”
Black & White
The restaurant at the hotel, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, will open in March. It will be operated by Black & White Franchising, and become the third brand within its portfolio, which includes Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and MPW New York Italian.
Black & White Franchising chief executive Nick Taplin said: “The importance of Wheeler’s Rib Room & Oyster Bar to Marco cannot be underestimated. He is passionate about the brand and extremely excited about the launch hence his close involvement. We feel privileged in bringing this new restaurant to the heart of the City.”
White has written the menu for the new restaurant with head chef Stephen Smith responsible for executing it. Dishes include Wheeler's Fish Pie, Grilled Dover Sole a la Salamander and Quails Eggs Maintenon with an average spend per head of £25-£30. Diners will also be able to order from the oyster bar with the main bar selling wines, Champagne and cocktails.