Stuart and his wife Cecilia will launch Bank House Wine Bar and Kitchen in Chiselhurst, Kent on 6 September.
It is the first standalone opening for Stuart, who spent over a decade at GRG, as managing director and then CEO. He was removed as a director at GRG on Companies House in February 2018, though rumours of his departure from the business had been circulating for several months.
Cecilia has a background working front of house, and has opened restaurants such as Quo Vadis and Marco Pierre White’s Criterion.
Several ex-Ramsay staffers are joining the new project. Bobby Brown, formerly of Bread Street Kitchen, is head chef, while the company's ex-wine coordinator Angelika Oparczyk is general manager.
Bank House will offer a weekly-changing modern European menu including grilled scallops, black butter and garlic; crab salad, brown crab dressing and pickled cucumber; and fried buttermilk chicken, hanabero and lime salsa.
“I’ve always loved the world of hospitality and restaurants, so it’s long been a dream to be able to bring that experience and energy into our own community, where Cecilia and I have raised our four boys,” says Stuart.
“Socialising and going out is embraced so much more now than when I grew up, and we’re very much looking forward to bringing something new and different to the area.”