London's Mocoto closes its doors after six months

Brazilian restaurant Mocoto in London’s Knightsbridge has closed its doors, just six months after it opened. 

The restaurant, which was located on the old site of Oliver Peyton’s Isola, held its last service last Wednesday (1 August), and has gone into receivership. 

Unconfirmed rumours suggest Gordon Ramsay Holdings has expressed an interested in taking over the site. 

Mocoto, the brainchild of former proprietor David Ponte who recently sold off the majority of his shares in the business, opened at the end of January, more than a year later and £1m over budged than originally planned.

Designed by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the restaurant was spread over two levels and included an informal "boteco" bar/brasserie on the ground floor and a more formal 80-cover dining room in the basement.

The restaurant billed itself as London’s “first authentic” Brazilian eaterie serving classics with many ingredients imported from Brazil. Head chef was Darryl Healy with Jason Bedford as restaurant manager. 

Mocotó, London >> 

Brazilian bistro will open in place of Peyton's Isola >> 

Peyton scraps Osteria d'Isola concept >> 

By Kerstin Kühn

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