**Chef Larry Jayasekara ©Adrian-Franklin-Photography**

23rd FEBRUARY, 2022 - Chef Larry Jayasekara and his business partner, Tim Jefferies - a near 40-year commercial resident of Hamiltons Gallery in London’s Mayfair - have secured a location for their first solo venture in the exclusive Bruton Place development in Mayfair.

A 20-year lease has now been signed at 27 Bruton Place, covering 3,000 sq. ft. over four floors. The restaurant is expected to open in Spring 2023. The property is managed by Astrea, the leading London asset and development manager.

After 18 years in the UK and working in many of Britain’s finest restaurants, Larry was introduced to Tim and his gallery in nearby Carlos Place, and the two formed a friendship. After years of planning, they set about discussing the opening of a new Mayfair restaurant, something intimate that will offer guests a vibrancy and buzz with an open kitchen and a private dining room.

Larry explains: “It’s been a bit of a roller coaster the past couple of years with Covid, but we’re thrilled to have exchanged on this particular site. When we first decided to open a restaurant together, we knew it would have to be in the right location, and this was our first choice.”

Yet to be named, the venue will be housed within the historic Bruton Place Mews building. The pair have also secured another 800 sq. ft. site opposite the restaurant at 38 Bruton Place, which is set to become a delicatessen with takeaway option at ground floor level. Both sites will be extensively remodelled before opening.

Tim Weston, Asset Management Director at Astrea comments: “We are very excited to welcome Larry and Tim to Bruton Place. Delivering the site has required significant collaboration from both sides, and it has been a pleasure working with the tenant team. The restaurant and delicatessen will add significant further amenity as part of our wider re-positioning of Bruton Place.”

Larry and Tim were advised by Dean Gambles & Co and Astrea by Hanover Green Retail.

ENDS -

NOTES TO EDITOR

About Larry Jayasekara Larry arrived in the UK in 2002 from his native Sri Lanka and studied at South Devon College before joining Pétrus by Marcus Wareing in 2004 when it was housed within The Berkeley Hotel. He then joined the three-star Waterside Inn as chef de partie before moving to Michel Bras in Route de Laguiole; then Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, before rejoining Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. He returned to Pétrus in 2015 as senior sous chef, promoted to head chef shortly after. In 2016, he won the Craft Guild National Chef of the Year Award and was awarded a Michelin Star that same year. During the Covid pandemic, he worked with the ‘Help Them Help Us’ charity to feed over 100,000 front line workers across London, preparing and delivering hot meals to staff at University College Hospitals. He was awarded the Fortnum & Mason Special Award in 2021 for the charity initiative.