The Grand Prix Café in Green Park, London, has brought in a team of emergency restaurant consultants in an effort to stem its haemorrhaging finances.
Chris Bodcker and Marianne Scrutton of Mirror Images have been hired to salvage the restaurant's future, while Brazilian Giselle Mastrosanti - formerly general manager at Che on St James's and the Avenue in Soho - has replaced former general manager Olivier Delaunoy.
"Grand Prix Café's owner was sending money every month to subsidise the operation but in the end it was losing too much and he decided enough was enough," said an insider source. "We've been told we need to perform better."
"This place was having problems," Mastrosanti said. "We're in a prime location with huge rents and rates. Unfortunately, the restaurant wasn't marketed the right way but we're bringing in a new menu next month and we're going to relax the service. It's going to be more funky - a bit French mamba."
Mastrosanti wouldn't reveal how much money the restaurant was losing but said turnover had increased by 50% between August and September.
Human resources manager Julia Murrell has also left the company, but head chef Chris Haworth has remained. The restaurant's management said no more staff changes were planned.