Last Smollensky's London sites to be sold off

The two remaining Smollensky`s sites in London have been put on the market, BigHospitality has learnt.

Property agents Christie & Co are understood to have been instructed by administrators BDO Stoy Hayward to sell the sites in Canary Wharf and on The Strand.

Last week, the agent announced it had sold the former Smollensky`s in south Croydon to Malcolm John, owner of Le Cassoulet in south Croydon and Le Vacherin in Chiswick.

John is planning to turn the former Smollensky`s Metro unit into an 80-cover restaurant called Fish & Grill - Malcolm John.

Christie & Co are currently marketing the former Smollensky’s Metro in Hammersmith and Burger Shack in Charing Cross also on behalf of Smollensky`s owner The Grill Group.

The Grill Group, formed by Paul Lilley, bought the Smollensky`s chain of restaurants for £6.5m in September 2007 with plans to expand, but has gradually been selling off restaurants over the past few months.

The restaurant chain, Le Frog, also owned by the group, was put into administration last week.

Le Frog bistro goes into administration