Arbutus owners close to completing second site deal

The owners of the award-winning restaurant Arbutus in London's Frith Street are close to completing on a second site.

Anthony Demetre and Will Smith, who run the Michelin-starred Caterer Adopted Business, yesterday revealed that they have bought the Drones Club in London's Mayfair.

The 70-seat, St George Street restaurant, currently owned by entrepreneur Ben Goldsmith, will be an Arbutus-style concept, but will not share the name. The restaurateurs hope to complete the deal by the end of the month, with a view to opening in May.

"I will predominantly be based here (in Frith Street)," said Demetre. "I plan to put one of my chefs, Colin Kelly, in as head chef. Colin has been with me for three years, previously at Putney Bridge and prior to that he worked at Orrery."

Like Arbutus, there will be no sommelier and the service will be relaxed. When asked if a Mayfair outpost would be a harder nut to crack, Demetre said: "I think you could have 200 Arbutuses in London. I believe there's room for that many."

Demetre and Smith will not be hiring a designer to refurbish the property and plan to do much of the conversion work themselves.

Arbutus: Winning a Michelin star >>

Michelin stars released by the new Michelin Guide >>

London's Arbutus triumphs in Rémy Martin Restaurant Awards 2007 >>

View full list of Michelin-starred restaurants here >>

By Amanda Afiya

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