Marlon Abela takes fifth London site

11-May-2011 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2021 at 11:31 GMT

Umu: one of MARC's London restaurants

The Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation (MARC) is set to open its fifth site in London after acquiring the former Bertorelli site in Fitzrovia.

The company, which is led by Marlon Abela, has taken the site on Charlotte Street that was part of a package of 28 Paramount Restaurants placed on the market through Christie + Co last year.

Details regarding the name of the new venue or the type of cuisine it will feature have yet to be disclosed. It is thought the company acquired the leasehold interest of the site for a premium of £950,000.

MARC

MARC currently operates the Michelin-starred Greenhouse and Umu restaurants as well as private members’ club Morton's in London. It opened its latest restaurant Cassis Bistro in South Kensington late last year.

The company also operates five restaurants in the US, including two under the A Voce name in New York. The business reportedly turns over £40m a year.

Owner Marlon Abela was this week placed at number 223 in the Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune estimated at around £350m.

Davis Coffer Lyons acted on behalf of MARC.

David Coffer, chairman of the Coffer Group, said: “This property represents a sentimental journey for me. I originally acted for the Bertorelli family on the original sale. I later sold it for Kennedy Brooks and also advised on the sale to Group Chez Gerard.

“I also acquired the freehold of the property on behalf of clients. Charlotte Street has become an excellent location and it’s great to see this iconic unit in such safe hands.”

Mark Wingett is associate editor of BigHospitality's sister publication, M&C Report .