Maxwell's Restaurants founder Brian Stein dies aged 79

Restaurateur Brian Stein who established the Maxwell’s Restaurants group has died at the age of 79.

A tribute to the restaurateur, who had also been chairman of Guards Polo Club, was released by the Hurlingham Polo Association, following his death on Monday (15 May).

It read: "We are hugely grateful for his contribution to polo. We send our deepest condolences to Platina, and his children Dan, Emily, and Alice at this time."

Stein (pictured above left with Bill Wyman in 2017) established Maxwell's Restaurants in 1972 when he opened Maxwell's Bar & Grill, in Hampstead, and later relocated the restaurant to a site in Covent Garden.

By 2010 the Maxwell's group employed 400 staff and had venues including Maxwell's Bar & Grill; Maxwell's Oxford; PJ's Bar & Grill on Fulham Road; Roadhouse in Covent Garden; Sticky Fingers in Kensington; the Palm Court Brasserie in Covent Garden; and Café de Paris in the West End.

The group had acquired Sticky Fingers from Rolling Stones bassist Wyman in 2000, with the musician retaining a stake.

Despite combined annual turnover having approached £30m, only three of the businesses were considered viable to reopen when Covid-19 restrictions began to be lifted in July 2020 – Old Compton Brasserie, Maxwell's Bar & Grill and Palm Court Brasserie.

In December 2020 the group became another victim of the pandemic and appointed liquidators.

Guards Polo Club said details of a memorial would be released at a later date.

Please send your tributes to emma.lake@thecaterer.com

Photo by Richard Young/Shutterstock