Ramsay Holdings to run Carlton Tower's Monte's restaurant?

Gordon Ramsay Holdings is in talks with the Carlton Tower hotel in London's Knightsbridge to acquire its Monte's restaurant and private members' club on behalf of a third party.

It would not confirm widespread rumours that the third party was Ian Pengelley, the former head chef at Will Ricker's Notting Hill restaurant E&O. Pengelley left the restaurant last year.

"This third party has approached Gordon Ramsay Holdings to act in a purely managerial capacity. Gordon Ramsay Holdings is not in negotiations to acquire the site for themselves," the company said in a statement.

Derek Picot, general manager at the Carlton Tower, said the hotel was talking to two "frontrunners" to run its 80-seat Monte's restaurant and club, but no deal had yet been signed. He added that there were a few more interested parties "in the back drawer".

Finance director David Nicholson said one of the parties involved was "as high-profile as Gordon".