Gilgamesh owners forfeited premises after failing to pay rent

Gilgamesh in Camden Stables, London has been taken over by the owners of the building – retailer turned restaurateur Richard Caring’s Gilgamesh Camden Ltd – after the previous restaurant owners allegedly failed to meet rent payments.

The restaurant, which opened last July with Ian Pengelley overseeing a Pan Asian menu in its vast dining room and bar, attracted much attention because of its £12m cost and design depicting the epic of Babylonian king Gilgamesh and 800 covers across the restaurant, bar and oriental tea bar.

Jeff Lim, Operations Manager for Gilgamesh, said: “The former Israeli business owners forfeited the premises after failing to pay rent totalling £700,000.” Pengelley, who will remain with the restaurant, said that Gilgamesh will essentially remain the same and has “recently started breaking even” turning over 1,600 to 1,800 covers a week. The new owners will make the Babylon Bar “more sexy” and introduce private membership.

Restaurant was unable to make contact with Gilgamesh’s previous owners when going to press.