Surprise sale for the Greenhouse

The Greenhouse, the upmarket London restaurant run by the group that operates the Capital hotel, was last week sold for an undisclosed sum to Lebanese businessman Marlon Abela.

Staff had no idea about the sale before Capital group managing director Joseph Levin told them on Friday (10 January). "I knew absolutely nothing about it," said the head chef at the restaurant, Paul Merrett.

Merrett, who previously held a Michelin star, added that he would be sad not to be working with Levin any more, but was excited at the new owner's plans for the restaurant.

The Greenhouse, in Hays Mews, Mayfair, is now owned by Marc, which stands for Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation. Abela, 27, is chairman and chief executive. The Abela family are best known for their multimillion airline and contract-catering business, but Marlon set up Marc last April when he bought Morton's club in Berkeley Square, London.

Marc's chief financial officer, Robert Evans, said the company intended to buy more restaurants in London, Paris and New York. Morton's is having a major refurbishment and Evans said the intention was to close the Greenhouse for a smaller refurbishment shortly.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 16-22 January 2003