Loading
Caterer & Hotelkeeper Magazine

Tags:

Marco Pierre White pulls out of two flagship restaurants

Samantha McClary & Ben Walker
Friday 25 January 2002 16:00

Restaurateur Marco Pierre White is pulling out of the Oak Room restaurant at the five-star, 267-bedroom Le Méridien Piccadilly hotel in London.

He is also pulling out of the Titanic restaurant in the capital's 900-bedroom Regent Palace hotel, but is taking over full ownership of the Criterion, in Piccadilly.

White's spokesman said he had decided to close the restaurants because he had had enough of the hotels in which they sat constantly changing hands.

He said the decision was not a financial one and that the group of restaurants was not losing money.

The spokesman added that the Oak Room would close on 15 February, with Titanic following suit by the end of March.

White will assume sole control of the Criterion over the next few weeks, he said.

A spokesman for Le Méridien said the decision to dissolve the partnership was an amicable one, and meant that it could focus more on its Terrace restaurant at the Piccadilly hotel.

He said Le Méridien was considering "a number of alternative uses for the Oak Room" but had not yet decided whether to reopen it as a restaurant.

Robert Reid

Robert Reid, head chef of the Oak Room, thinks the restaurant should win a brand-new award - "Best restaurant to close".

He said life had been "demoralising" recently as the rumour of closure had been hanging over him and his staff for almost a year. He said he had separated from his wife and had been feeling "miserable".

Taking a long-delayed holiday will be his first move: "I need a break to rekindle my enthusiasm." He added that two weeks was usually enough before he wanted to return to the kitchen.

He has no job lined up. "I can't think of any place that I can say I want to go yet. I'm sure Marco will help. I'm still friends with him. We still get on," he said.

Recommended articles

Articles from the web

 
blog comments powered by Disqus
Profiting from 2012: Case Studies

Slash VAT, Boost business - Sign the petition now!

Latest Video

housekeeping

Video: highlighting housekeepers

In this week’s issue, guest edited by Raymond Blanc, we explore the important roles of housekeepers.

Watch here

The Caterer and Hotelkeeper discussion forum

  • Roux Scholarship 2012 - Andre Garrett and VivianaRoux Scholarship 2012 - Andre Garrett and Viviana
  • Roux Scholarship 2012 - Sat Bains and Brian TurnerRoux Scholarship 2012 - Sat Bains and Brian Turner
  • Roux Scholarship 2012Roux Scholarship 2012
  • Roux Scholarship 2012 - Richard Bainbridge and Will HollandRoux Scholarship 2012 - Richard Bainbridge and Will Holland
  • Roux Scholarship 2012 - John Williams and Adam SmithRoux Scholarship 2012 - John Williams and Adam Smith
  • Roux Scholarship 2012 - Michel RouxRoux Scholarship 2012 - Michel Roux

Best of chef

Best of Chef – now available online

Best of Chef – now available online
View it now

Videos

Marcello Tully, Kinloch Lodge Video: Michelin-starred chefs turn out in force for Wellocks' chef conference Video: Highlights from Hotelympia 2012 Video: Foraging – why all the attention?
Marcello Tully
Masterclass
Watch the video here
Wellocks'
chef conference
Watch the video here
Highlights from
Hotelympia 2012
Watch the video here
Foraging:
why all the attention?
Watch the video here