Clove Club founders divide up restaurants as they part ways

The founders of London’s Clove Club and Luca restaurants are to divide the group after announcing their intention to part ways.

 

McHale, Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis opened the two-Michelin-starred Clove Club in Shoreditch Town Hall in 2013 after achieving success as a supper club.

 

The trio followed their success with Michelin-starred modern Italian restaurant Luca, which opened in Clerkenwell in 2016.

 

The Clove Club group has now been split up with Smith and Willis taking joint ownership of Luca, while McHale is now sole owner of the Clove Club. 

 

McHale said: “I will always be immensely proud of what Johnny, Daniel and I have built together and the heights that we have reached with Luca and the Clove Club.

 

“Luca was always intended as a place to make people happy with a menu that would satisfy my passion for Italian food and I have loved being a part of its journey with Johnny and Daniel.

 

“Now, I’m excited to continue to focus on The Clove Club and its legacy on the global fine dining scene. 2025 holds a lot in store for us at Shoreditch Town Hall, not to mention an exciting new venture on the horizon, too.”

 

Smith and Willis added: "After 14 years since the first Clove Club supper club, we feel it is time to move on from the group.

 

“We’d like to take this moment to express our gratitude to Isaac and the entire team at The Clove Club for everything we’ve accomplished together — from the early supper clubs to the creation of two internationally recognised and award-winning restaurants.

 

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built and thankful to everyone who has supported us along the way. We wish Isaac all the best and look forward to focusing on the exciting next chapter of Luca."