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Ramsay to sell off pub and private dining room
Benedict Moore-Bridger22 Jan 2009
GORDON Ramsay is to sell two of his London restaurants.
The Devonshire pub in Chiswick and his private dining rooms in Sloane Street are both on the market for undisclosed sums.
The Devonshire was the third pub added to Gordon Ramsay Holdings when it was taken over in 2007.
At the time the company said it planned to open 10 pubs. Its other two, The Warrington in Maida Vale and The Narrow in Limehouse, have both been praised by critics for their food.
The private dining rooms, called Sloane Street by Gordon Ramsay, are thought to have been particularly at risk from the contracting City economy. They are overseen by Mark Sargeant, Ramsay's "right hand man", and offer catering for groups of 30 or more.
Menus start at £80 a head and the venue can hold up to 200 for lunch, dinner, weddings and corporate events.
It had previously traded as La Noisette, earning a Michelin star under Bjorn van der Horst. Ramsay's move into gastropubs began two years ago in Limehouse, but critics gave The Devonshire a poor reception.
Reader views (10)
What a punk! He goes around telling small restaurant owners how to run their place yet can't turn a profit when he tries to do it. Making a profit in any type of restaurant is NOT EASY. He has no business making a TV show where he tells small restaurant owners what to do if he can't do it himself! And that's whith a central kitchen making boil-in-the-bags. What a joke!
- Yankee, D.C. USA, 13/12/2009 20:45
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The beginning of the end.............Perhaps Mr.Ramsay should go back to cooking.
- Paul, London, 13/12/2009 19:45
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Casper,
What did Gordon do to the Devonshire which ruined it?
- Ross, London, UK, 13/12/2009 19:45
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I'm a new customer to the Devonshire and I'm very saddened to hear that The Devonshire is on the Market.
I certainly agree with other readers that the marketing isn't great and it was only by chance that I stumbled upon the restaurant myself.
Come on Ramsey keep the restaurant going!
- Andrea Nagle,, Ealing, 13/12/2009 19:45
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cant understand why he bought it in the first place
- Guy, london, 13/12/2009 19:45
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I quite like what he did with the Devonshire. Its quite well priced and the food is good with an ever changing menu. A bit poor that its shut on Mondays and Tuesdays. I suspect the problem is the pub is hidden away with no passing trade, its also in one of the worst parts of chiswick imo.
- Nik, Chiswick, 13/12/2009 19:45
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Does this spell the end of the gastropub?
LET'S HOPE SO!
- Steve, London, 13/12/2009 19:45
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It will be such a shame to close the Devonshire in Chiswick it’s such a little Gem in west London.
I found the marketing wasn't great as I only found out about the Devonshire through a friend
otherwise I would have never even known it existed.
Since my visit I’ve have always recommended it to all friends who have also loved the eating experience,
I just can't believe it will close after only just discovering it was one of my favorite eating places in
London.
A very disappointed customer
- Samina Hurry, London, 13/12/2009 19:45
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The Devonshire was a great pub and restaurant before Ramsay ruined it. I'm not surprised that it isn't viable anymore.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 13/12/2009 19:45
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Lets hope he ditches the Warrington ant it goes back to being a proper pub again. It has been turned from a Lord's lunchtime tradition into a gastro-monstrosity.
- Charlie, London, 13/12/2009 19:45
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