Salt Yard Group sells Opera Tavern to Urban Pubs and Bars

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Salt Yard Group is to sell its Opera Tavern site to the Urban Pubs and Bars group.

The 40 cover site will reopen in September as the 14th site in Urban’s hospitality portfolio, alongside the likes of Paradise in Kensal Green and The Punch Tavern in Fleet Street.

The group, which worked with Restaurant Property on the deal, says it will maintain the core elements of the venue’s existing operation, including its emphasis on high quality food, and its “unique façade and charming interior”.

The property agent found the buyer for the two-storey bar and restaurant within several days, and will complete the deal in September.

Urban Pubs and Bars has been steadily expanding since the £50m sale of its former business, Realpubs, to Greene King.

Salt Yard Group closed its Italian restaurant Veneta last December, just a year after opening, admitting it was struggling with the site, which is located just south of Piccadilly Circus.

The Venice-inspired restaurant launched at London’s £400m St James’s Market development in October 2016 and was the group’s first opening to serve breakfast. Salt Yard said that though the location was 'fabulous' it was 'not quite right' for the concept. 

Following the sale of Opera Tavern, the group will be left with its eponymous site; Ember Yard; and Dehesa.