Rhodes to take over Tower 42

Gary Rhodes and Restaurant Associates, the fine-dining division of contract catering giant Compass, have officially confirmed that Rhodes will be taking over the site of London's Tower 42 restaurant.

The restaurant, located in the City of London in what is also known as the NatWest Tower, has been operated by Roux Fine Dining, a sub-division of Restaurant Associates, since 1998. Rhodes will open there a couple of weeks' time after a refurbishment. The restaurant will be called Rhodes Twenty Four and have capacity for 76 seats.

The partnership, first reported by Caterer, follows the awarding of a new 10-year contract to Restaurant Associates by Tower 42 to manage all hospitality and catering services throughout the multi-tenanted office building.

A spokesman for Restaurant Associates confirmed that the contract hadn't been put out to tender.

Earlier this year Rhodes announced the ending of his seven-year business partnership with Compass's rival, Sodexho, with which he had launched two London restaurants, City Rhodes and Rhodes on the Square. Both were awarded Michelin stars.

Rhodes will continue to cook his trademark modern British cuisine at his new restaurant. He said: "I am thrilled to be returning to the City to launch this new venture in what is undoubtedly a first-class venue. The partnership with Restaurant Associates gives me the opportunity to establish a destination restaurant in a unique setting."

In addition to rebranding Tower 42's 24th-floor restaurant, Restaurant Associates will also refurbish the building's ground-floor caf‚-bar under the umbrella of its speciality coffee brand, Ritazza. Café Ritazza will be open to the general public as well as employees working in Tower 42.

Sodexho will relaunch the former Rhodes on the Square as Allium on 16 October under the leadership of Anton Edelmann.