Xavier Rousset to open restaurant on London's Gresham Street
Master Sommeliers (MS) Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney have acquired a site for a restaurant on Gresham Street in the City of London.
The restaurant, the name of which is yet to be revealed, will serve French cuisine with a focus on wines from around the world.
It is expected to open this summer, with a 3,198 sq ft site, replacing cocktail bar Be At One.
The new venue will comprise a 1,090 sq ft ground floor, a first floor of 1,129 sq ft and a 979 sq ft basement.
Its lease runs until 2035, with a rent of £82,000 per annum and an undisclosed six-figure premium.
Matthew Englender, surveyor at Restaurant Property, said: "Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney are extremely talented master sommeliers so I am delighted to have helped secure a site for them within the heart of the city.
"Restaurant Property regularly acquires sites for exciting and interesting concepts and I look forward to working with them in the future."
Rousset, the co-founder of Texture and 28°-50°, left the businesses he created with chef Agnar Sverrisson to pursue other projects in May 2015.
He started his career working at prestigious restaurants in France, including the two-Michelin-star Le Laurent in Paris and Villa Belrose in St Tropez before becoming chief sommelier at the Hotel du Vin.
In 2002, he won the Ruinart UK Sommelier of the Year and became the youngest Master Sommelier in the world, when he passed the exam aged 23.
He went on to become head sommelier at the Michelin-starred Belmont Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons working with Raymond Blanc.
Upon leaving, Rousset along with business partner Agnar Sverrisson set up Texture restaurant in 2007 which won a Michelin star within three years. Most recently, Rousset opened 28.50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen.
He walked away with the Wine & Spirit Ambassador Award at the Cateys last year.
Devaney won UK Sommelier of the Year Award back in 2008 while working in some of Europe's top restaurants.
Rousett was currently unable to reveal more details about the restaurant.
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Xavier Rousset leaves Texture and 28°-50°>>
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