Self-taught Michelin-starred-chef Alex Aitken has bought the Latimers on the Quay restaurant in Southampton for close to the asking price of £595,000.
The acquisition marks Aitken's first opening outside the New Forest, where his Le Poussin Group has been operating for 23 years (since opening the 30-seat restaurant Le Poussin in Brockenhurst in 1983).
"It's a gorgeous Grade II-listed property and we want to spend a six-figure sum refurbishing it," Aitken said.
"We will have a seafood, oyster and Champagne bar on the ground floor, with the first floor doing Le Poussin food."
Aitken plans to open the 75-seat seafood bar on the ground floor in time for Southampton's Boat Show in September, before completing renovations and the 50-seat restaurant by December.
Property agents Goadsby Hotels and Leisure handled the sale.