Tootsies founder and MD resigns

Tootsies founder and managing director Andrew Bonnell has resigned from the company following its acquisition by The Clapham House Group earlier this month.

Bonnell said he was leaving “to pursue other interests”.

Last month he revealed he was launching a new group of restaurants based on West London eaterie, The Brackenbury.

The group’s second site is the former one-Michelin starred the Goose in Britwell Salome, Oxfordshire, which is undergoing refurbishment.

Glen Tomlinson and Tim Woodcock remain as directors of Urban Dining.

Clapham House Group (CHG), which is led by former PizzaExpress directors David Page and Paul Campbell, tabled a £25.3m bid for Urban Dining, the owner of Tootsies, at the beginning of April.

CHG has now received valid acceptances of its bid from 97.9% of Urban Dining’s shareholders and the deal has been declared unconditional.

The new owner intends to convert at least a third of the 30 restaurants in the Tootsies group to its Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) format, taking it outside London for the first time.

Tootsies boss to launch new chain of restaurants >>

Clapham House snaps up Tootsies >> 

Midmarket dining matures >>

By Jessica Gunn

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