Corbin and King says bye to Bellanger

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Corbin & King is to close its French brasserie Bellanger, in Islington, four years after it was launched.

The group behind restaurants including The Wolseley, The Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel, also says it has secured a new restaurant site in Notting Hill Gate.

In an email message, CEO Jeremy King, who’s company also operates The Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel as well as other brasseries, said the numbers had not worked at Bellanger, unlike the group’s more recent opening Soutine, in St John’s Wood.

“It is a great shame but, although we loved being in Islington, we just couldn’t make it the success we aspired to – unlike as has been in the case of Soutine,” he said. “Much as it had been a great critical success this wasn’t matched financially.

“And although we continued to trade for much longer than less patient operators might have persevered there came a point where we had to be pragmatic and move on to concentrate on new projects.”

The company is currently working on the opening of Manzi’s in Soho, a restaurant that will pay homage to the famous fish restaurant of the same name. The restaurant is located at 1-8 Bateman Buildings - incorporating 55 Greek Street - and is due to open next year.

Bellanger will close mid next month.