Stuart Gillies to launch solo restaurant business

Ex-Gordon Ramsay Group (GRG) chief executive Stuart Gillies is anticipated to launch his own restaurant brand.

Gillies, who had worked with the GRG since 2011, was removed as a director of the company on 2 March.

It has recently emerged that Gillies has set up his own business called Alfa-Zero Limited of which he is the sole director.

It became clear that Gillies' intention was to open a restaurant business when applying for a trademark for the name Wood & Wood on 25 April 2018.

Although no details have been confirmed, the trademark suggests that services to be "providing of food and drink; restaurant, café, bar and catering services; preparation and serving of food and beverages; reservation services relating to the aforesaid; Take-away food and drink service."

Following Gillies' departure, managing director Andy Wenlock was tipped to become the company's CEO, but the Gordon Ramsay Group has not responded to requests for comment.

The Gordon Ramsay Group last year announced a return to profit for the first time since 2012. Profit after tax was recorded as £739,000, up from a £2m loss the previous year.

Gillies and Ramsay first met when they were young commis chefs in London. Over 30 years the two developed a friendship which resulted in Ramsay becoming Gillies' boss.

In his position as managing director of GRG, Gillies headed the openings of both Bread Street Kitchen in One New Change in London and Union Street Café near Borough Market. He was promoted to chief executive in 2016 to focus on the group's strategic growth while developing the brand's culture.

Last month it was announced that Gordon Ramsay's Maze restaurant in London's Mayfair will close in January 2019, to be replaced by a new concept.

Its closure was revealed in the financial results of parent company Kavalake Limited, which showed a pre-tax loss of £3.8m, compared to a pre-tax profit of £102,000 the previous year for the 14-strong restaurant group, in the year to 31 August 2017. Turnover was down 1% to £51.4m.

Gillies was unavailable to comment at the time of publishing.

Gordon Ramsay's Maze restaurant to close >>

Top 100: Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay Group >>

Stuart Gillies removed as director of Gordon Ramsay Group >>

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).