Rowley Leigh to open new London restaurant

Chef-proprietor Rowley Leigh is to open a new restaurant in west London this summer, Caterer can reveal.

Leigh, who was chef-proprietor of London's Kensington Place for 20 years, is launching a 200-cover eaterie called Café des Anglais in the Whitley shopping centre in Bayswater in August.

The restaurant, which will be located on the second floor of the building, will have a separate street-level entrance and exclusive lift. It is a joint venture between Leigh and his business partner Charlie McVeigh, who will oversee the financial side of the business.

Leigh will run the kitchen together with head chef Colin Westal and the menu will offer high-end brasserie food with an English twist.

Leigh said he was "extremely excited" about the project. "I stayed at Kensington Place for a long time because I really enjoyed it," he told Caterer. "But it's very exciting to be working on a new project and to be making a statement again."

By Kerstin Kühn

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