Alan Yau goes abroad for new openings

London-based restaurateur Alan Yau is to open two international restaurants next year, one in Hong Kong and a second in St Barts in the Caribbean.

Yau said he planned to follow the success of Hakkasan in London, with a second outlet in Hong Kong scheduled to open at the end of 2005.

He will also open a seafood restaurant in May in a new hotel designed by Christian Liaigre, the designer behind Hakkasan and Yauatcha. The 42-bedroom hotel will take over the existing Sereno Beach Hotel, which is currently closed. No name for the new operation has yet been decided.

Yau will also open two more outlets of his Busaba Eathai restaurant chain in London in 2005 - in Bird Street in April and in Floral Street - by the end of next year.

He is also working on a new Chop Suey concept for London to open by the end of next year.