Confirmed: Company Behind Ichibuns Has Acquired Mayfair Site for ‘New Venture’

Eater London has learned that Infinitum Hospitality — the company behind Japanese burger brand Ichibuns, which launched in the UK with a Chinatown site this summer — has acquired the lease on the property at 20 Berkeley Street in Mayfair. The site is understood to have completed, with the property agent Cedar Dean Group acting on behalf of the departing leaseholders.

Ichibuns is the creation of Robin Leigh — formerly of high-end sushi brand Nobu and the casual dining chain Busaba Eathai. However Eater London has been told by sources close to the deal that it will be a “new venture” and that the operators have not yet “committed on the concept.” The new site will be 125 covers.

The site had been leased by Andrei Delos (whose $55m Turandot in Moscow broke records when it opened in 2005 as the world’s most expensive new restaurant, according to Newsweek) and whose company was planning to open Café Pushkin there at the end of last year (the so-called “Russian nobleman’s palace”) but that failed to ever materialise.

Ichibuns has been met with mixed reviews, but has gained a reputation for their indulgent and Instagram-friendly Hokkaido burger — two grilled (50% Wagyu beef) patties, red onions, shiitake mushrooms and blue cheese fondue sauce; plus fish finger burgers; ramen and a selection of spring rolls, one of which has a cheeseburger filling.

Confirmation of the new restaurant concept is expected to be revealed early in the new year.