Fretwell leaves Nico Central to join new Metcalfe venture

CLIVE Fretwell has quit his post at Nico Central in Manchester to develop a new restaurant with Pràt à Manger's Julian Metcalfe.

Last week Fretwell took over as head chef at T'su, the 80-seat sushi restaurant in London's Walton Street owned by Metcalfe.

He will be working on developing a new European menu which will also reduce the average spend per head at therestaurant from its current £15 to about £10.

Metcalfe was reluctant togive details but said that theconveyor belt system would remain. "There will be enormous changes but it won't be complete until around Easter time,"he said.

Fretwell, who was unavailable for comment, joined Manchester's Nico Central, in the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza hotel, less than a year ago. He previously spent 13 years at Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire as head chef. His replacement at Nico Central has yet to be named.