Owners put Leith's Soho up for sale
Firmdale Hotels is in the process of selling one of the Leith's restaurants it bought in February and is refurbishing and renaming the other.
The company, which is owned by Kit and Kim Kemp, acquired the two sites from Leith's School of Food and Wine earlier this year for an undisclosed sum.
However, restaurant operations director Kit Smith said that Leith's Soho, in Beak Street, London, did not fit in with Firmdale's plans. It has been closed down while a sale to an unnamed buyer proceeds. He confirmed that the "handful" of staff at the restaurant had been made redundant.
Meanwhile, the Leith's Kensington restaurant has been closed down to undergo a major revamp. It is expected to reopen in September with a new name, which has been chosen but not yet revealed.
Smith said the name was being changed because Firmdale did not own it and did not want to contravene any rules and regulations regarding the previous owner. He said the menu would be much the same as before, but slightly less complicated.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 27 July - 2 August 2000