Sell-off funds slug expansion

Grosvenor Inns has sold its Bar Central operations to fund a major expansion of its 15-strong Slug & Lettuce brand.

The London-based pub and restaurant group which gained complete control of Bar Central only last year, has shelved the food-led operation in order to grow the stronger Slug & Lettuce brand by 20 units over the next two years.

"Our focus now is entirely on Slug & Lettuce. All our resources, human and financial, are going into this," said managing director Gary Pettet.

Three Bar Centrals in Waterloo, Chelsea and Richmond have been sold for £2m to a new leisure company called Queen's Ice, headed by Lee Simon.

The former Bar Central in Islington, north London, remains in the group but has been rebranded Bartizan, a drinks-led unit which will remain a one-off.