Simon Rogan to buy restaurant in Oxfordshire

Michelin-star winning chef Simon Rogan is about to sign a deal on a restaurant in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.

The chef proprietor of the Michelin-starred L’Enclume in Cartmel in the Lake District told Caterer earlier this year he planed to open a new fine-dining restaurant in the South as he was frustrated more people had not eaten his food.

Rogan is now close to putting pen to paper on a site that is currently being run as a restaurant and hotel but is “underachieving”.

He also wants to buy the property next door to create a 40-cover restaurant with a 30-cover private dining room, champagne bar and 17 bedrooms.

Rogan said that while the food at the new venue would be similar to L'Enclume, he was keen to explore different styles.

He added the move would not mean closing L'Enclume and said: “L'Enclume has gone from strength to strength over the past four years and we’re certainly not looking to scale down.”

Rogan said plans to open a bistro-and-bar operation in Cartmel had been shelved in favour of the new venture.

Northern Focus: Simon Rogan at the L'Enclume, Cartmel >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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