Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana sold to Hakkasan

The sale, for an undisclosed sum, follows a string of other sales by Barber over recent months, and is thought to allow him to focus on the expansion of the Hush restaurant and bar brand, according to BigHospitality sister publication M&C Report.

Barber, who owned the London-based Sake No Hana with the Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev, is reported to have posted a photo of himself signing the legal papers for the sale on his Twitter page.

Previous sales​

The deal follows three other sales by Barber over the past three months. In May 2011, Barber sold his two-strong Villandry restaurant business​ to the former managing director of Le Pain Quotidien Philippe Le Roux, who now plans to expand the concept.

Barber has also sold his two Kitchen Italia restaurants in Covent Garden and Westfield London. BigHospitality understands a deal has been made to the brand’s main investors, the Kuwait-based Kout Food Group, which also backs the Maison Blanc chain and noodle bar Cha Cha Moon in Soho.

Hush expansion​

The total value of the three deals is thought to be over £12m, and it is expected that the sales will allow Barber to further expand Hush, which was first opened in Mayfair over a decade ago.

Barber is reportedly looking at sites of around 3,500sq ft in the capital to open smaller versions of the original Hush.

According to M&C Report, Barber is also working on several other projects in the eating and drinking out sector.