The group, whose portfolio includes The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel, has taken on the former Carluccio’s site in St John’s Wood to open its ninth restaurant site, Soutine.
But in an email yesterday (12 September), Jeremy King said “planning issues” meant the launch would likely be in the New Year.
Though details are scarce on the restaurant, King has said it will be “bespoke” and “not the beginning of a chain”.
It will pay homage to the “strong artistic heritage” of the area, which is home to The St John’s Wood Art School.
Beaumont Hotel sale
Writing in the company newsletter King also confirmed the group is set to relinquish management of The Beaumont hotel in Mayfair after its sale to the Barclay family - who also own The Ritz.
It follows reports this summer that the Mayfair property, where rooms start from £450 a night, was on the market for more than £100m.
The five-star site was the first hotel venture for King and Chris Corbin when it opened in 2014. The leasehold was taken on by Grosvenor following financial difficulties, but Corbin and King continued to manage the site.
In an email yesterday (12 September) King confirmed the group was “relinquishing ownership” of the hotel.
“Strictly speaking, that effectively happened two years ago with a change in the lease structure, but we have continued to manage the business immensely successfully,” he said.
“The new owners, the Barclay family, are experienced hoteliers and will in time take on the management. I am inevitably sad to let it go but it is the right course of action.”
The Barclay’s also own The Telegraph newspaper.