L'Arlequin site in new hands
by Nigel Bartlett
L'arlequin, the south London restaurant formerly owned by Michelin-starred chef Christian Delteil, is being sold and will reopen under a different name.
The new proprietors will be Gary and Emer Levy, who for the past four years have run a restaurant at the rear of the Bull's Head pub in Barnes, south-west London.
Mr Levy told Caterer he was paying close to the asking price of £185,000 for the premises, on which he exchanged contracts last week. The present owner is a company which bought it from Mr Delteil some months ago but has done nothing with it.
The 55-seat restaurant will reopen under the name of the Stepping Stone in about eight weeks' time. Mr Levy said the operation would be similar to their current 40-seat one, charging an average of £18.50 a head, including wine.
"We're not aiming for the same market as L'Arlequin - it's going to be more of a neighbourhood restaurant," said Mr Levy, although he stressed that he and co-chef Laura Greenfield cooked everything from scratch, including bread, sausages, pasta and ice-cream.
Ms Greenfield is moving to the new restaurant as well, and Mrs Levy will continue to cook desserts and look after the front of house.
Mr Levy described the Battersea site as "not the perfect location", but said that was reflected in the price.
"It does have a big catchment area, and we're bound to attract some customers from here as well," he said, adding that he was used to being in a poor location.
"At the moment we're at the end of an alley, and don't have a sign. We've got a lousy location here and have done well, so the new place can only do better," said Mr Levy.
