London Luxury Restaurateur Continues Casual Dining Adventure

Richard Caring’s Caprice Holdings will launch an informal offshoot of his high-end St James’s brasserie Le Caprice called Caprice Café.

Having confirmed the opening of Harry’s Bar in Marylebone last month, and with plans for the 30 site-strong Ivy Collection — itself an off-shoot of the long time celebrity approved The Ivy — to continue its nationwide expansion, it is further evidence that the restaurateur behind some of the most exclusive luxury restaurant brands in the city sees a sustainable future in the proliferation of medium-sized chains. Chains that are scaleable, and can be exported to cities across the U.K. Caring’s efforts could be aided by the increase in availability of sites following the reduction in scale (or elimination) of a number of prominent high street operators, such as Jamie’s Italian, Byron, Carluccio’s, and Prezzo.

MCA reports that Caring’s company will use the site of Chinese restaurant Mayfair Garden (formerly Princess Garden), on North Audely Street in Mayfair, which it acquired in the spring of 2016, for the new brand.

Eater contacted Mayfair Garden by phone this lunchtime. A member of staff confirmed that the site was owned by Caring, but that there existed no knowledge of the proposed change of use.

It is thought that Caprice Café will open not until 2019.

Representatives for Caprice Holdings did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Caring to launch Caprice Café concept [MCA/Paywall]