Anthony Demetre plans Soho opening

06 March 2006
Anthony Demetre plans Soho opening

Anthony Demetre, former chef-proprietor of the one-Michelin-starred Putney Bridge restaurant in London, is to open a new business in Soho.

Demetre has bought the former site of Bistro Bruno on Frith Street where he worked with Bruno Loubet before the pair launched L'Odéon in 1995.

Demetre and his business partner, William Smith, also from Putney Bridge, will open a 65-seat bistro and bar called Arbutus at the beginning of May. The restaurant derives its name from the tree species Arbutus unedo, otherwise known as a strawberry tree, which once grew in Soho Square.

Arbutus will be informal in style with no tablecloths or sommelier. "We're aiming for a New York-style of casualness," Demetre said.

Food will be predominantly French with lunch costing around £15-£20 without drinks and dinner £25-£30. The restaurant will have a 100-strong wine list with many available by the glass.

Demetre said that, should the deal go ahead, the restaurant and kitchen would be gutted, and new interiors created by Linda Turner at Inature.

The venture is a three-way partnership, between Demetre, Smith and a sleeping partner.

By Jessica Gunn

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week -

Sudoku Join the craze and play Sudoku online!
The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking