Peyton bounces back with two openings

Beleaguered restaurateur Oliver Peyton has signed contracts to open two new London restaurants.

In February he will unveil a new restaurant at what is now Crivelli's Garden Restaurant in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery in London. The restaurant will be designed by David Collins.

Peyton also has plans for a second new restaurant at Northumberland House, a Grade-II listed building in Northumberland Avenue that was formerly owned by the MoD.

Peyton's Atlantic Bar & Grill in Piccadilly shut suddenly in September after bailiffs moved in following a disagreement over rent payments.

The future of the site, which will remain under the remit of the Regent Palace Hotel until it surrenders the lease in December 2006, remains undecided.

The Atlantic is currently being operated by restaurant consultant Simon Wright's events business, TGP, and Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson.

Johnson told Caterer he would be rebranding the site in the coming months, but had no definite plans for the future.

"Any landlord will look at the track record of the potential tenants and take a view," he said.

Peyton maintains he will move back into the site after the Crown Estate takes control of the building.

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