Pizza Hut buys Boulestin site
BOULESTIN restaurant in London's Covent Garden is to close after 68 years in business. The 75-seat property is to be sold to Pizza Hut, which plans to turn it into a 160-seat outlet.
Owner Queens Moat Houses would not comment on the deal, which is expected to be completed in March. However, Pizza Hut UK marketing director Steve Dunn said the company was buying the site because more and more young people were visiting the area.
"Boulestin offers good food and a comfortable atmosphere for its customers," said Mr Dunn. "Similarly, we look forward to offering good, value-for-money food in an atmosphere which suits our customers' young profile."
Chef-patron Kevin Kennedy has made it known he wishes to buy the Boulestin name and reopen the restaurant as a brasserie and bar, ideally as a tenant in QMH's Norfolk or Royal Court hotels in London. Average food and drink spend would be £30, compared with the present £50.
Mr Kennedy has run Boulestin with his wife Maggie for the past 15 years. The couple have told customers in a newsletter that the restaurant is to close on 11 March and farewell gourmet dinners have been arranged for its last three nights.
