US steakhouse chain Palm to launch in the UK

The Palm, one of America's oldest steakhouse grill chains, is set to expand in to London.

The new restaurant will occupy the former Drones restaurant site in Pont Street, Knightsbridge and will launch in June.

It is the company's first restaurant outside of the USA and Central America.

Owner, Wally Ganzi, said: "We always listen to our customers and they have been asking us for several years to consider opening in London, and now we've found what we think is the perfect location."

The original Palm restaurant was founded by Ganzi's grandfather John Ganzi and his business partner Pio Bozzi in New York in 1926.

The chain now numbers 27 restaurants, with operations in Washington, New York, East Hampton, Los Angeles, Houston, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Palms is famous for its seafood grills and aged prime-beef, as well as selling the signed cartoons and caricatures that hang on their walls.

Artwork subjects include celebrities and politicians from film director Francis Ford Coppola, former president George Bush and racing driver Jackie Stewart.

The restaurants have also been referred to in hit US television series, the West Wing and Nip/Tuck.

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By Joanna Wood

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