London food store, bar and restaurant Villandry is to launch a sister venue in Oxfordshire, Caterersearch has learnt.

Owner Jamie Barber, who took over the outlet on Great Portland Street three years ago, plans to open a second Villandry in Bicester next month.

Located in the Bicester Village retail development, which includes 100 shops of mainly high end designer brands, the 7,000sq ft site will launch on 7 November.

It will comprise a 150-seat restaurant with 70-seat outdoor terrace as well as a large deli and takeaway operation.

The kitchen will be overseen by head chef Raj Nathan, who has been senior sous chef at Villandry in London for three years. The menu will offer classic French brasserie dishes including French onion soup, steak and frites and cassoulet.

Barber told Caterersearch the opening of Villandry in Bicester marks the beginning of a bigger expansion strategy.

“I’ve wanted to open a second site for a while but it took time to find the right location,” he said.

“I’m planning to open further outlets in London and am currently on the lookout for new sites. I hope that under the current financial climate opportunities will arise over the coming months.”

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By Kerstin Kühn

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