Pourcel brothers announce London restaurant plans

Two of France's top chefs, twin brothers Jacques and Laurent Pourcel, are to open a restaurant in London. It will be one of three restaurants they are opening worldwide next year.

The pair, owners of the three Michelin-starred Le Jardin des Sens in their home town of Montpellier, have bought a property in Waterloo Place, in London's St James district. The property, which they own with their business partner Olivier Château, previously traded as an office. It will launch as a 120-seat restaurant, yet to be named, in June.

The brothers will design its Mediterranean-style menus but won't cook there. Jacques said they had wanted a restaurant in London because they "enjoy the city".

Other cities involved in their global spending spree, details of which remain confidential, are Bangkok and Barcelona.

The Bangkok restaurant will open in March, while Barcelona will follow by the end of the year.

News of the brothers' expansion plans follows the launch of their first international restaurant, the 110-seat Sens et Saveur, which opened in Tokyo in September last year.

Names for each and staffing details have yet to be announced.: The Pourcels opened their flagship business, 80-seat Le Jardin des Sens, meaning "the garden of the senses", in 1988.

Ten years later it was awarded three Michelin stars. Before Le Jardin des Sens, the brothers both worked for acclaimed French chefs. Laurent was sous chef to Michel Bras, while Jacques honed his craft with Pierre Gagnaire.

Ironically, they were awarded three Michelin stars before Bras.