Middle Eastern operator Salmontini will open its first UK restaurant after Davis Coffer Lyons – the leisure specialists – secured a lease assignment on the former The Palm Restaurant on Pont Street in Knightsbridge. The company paid a substantial undisclosed premium for the 5,400 sq ft unit.
Salmontini operates a number of restaurant concepts in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, all of which focus around its signature homemade smoked Scottish Salmon along with seafood specialties, sushi, meat dishes and pastries. The company is now looking to expand into other major cities around the world.
Popular US steak restaurant concept The Palm continues to operate a chain of 26 restaurants in the USA – stretching all the way from Boston to San Diego – as well as two in Mexico. This restaurant was the company’s only operation in the UK and first opened in 2009.
Jonathan Moradoff, Associate Director at DCL said: “Salmontini is a highly successful operator in the Middle East. The unit’s proximity to Knightsbridge and its high end shops meant it was no surprise that an operator of their calibre wanted it for their flagship UK restaurant – this is reflected by the substantial premium they paid. We have no doubt that Salmontini will be very popular with the area’s wealthy demographic.”