Former commercial director of Soho House Group Chris Miller launched a new restaurant investment and advisory service to help Britain’s food and drink entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality.
Chris has pledged to pump up to £2M in individual businesses and will offer financial management, budgeting, property sourcing, operational expertise, legal assistance, expansion planning and debt structuring.
Among White Rabbit Fund’s first tranche of investments is Kricket, the modern Indian small plates and cocktails concept which is set to open its second London restaurant in Soho at the end of the year. Further investments will be announced in the coming months.
EXECS
Tony Aikenhead is stepping down from his role as chief executive at construction and civil engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine at the end of July, two years ahead of his planned retirement in early 2018.
***
Rocco Versace joined Avamore Capital as an analyst.
LEASES
UK Allied Associates signed a lease at 57-59 Great Suffolk St, near Southwark Station. The company will pay DTZ Investors £57k/year for five years.
***
Prologis leased two buildings of 141k SF and 327k SF to Jaguar Land Rover at Prologis Park Ryton. The 327k SF building will become part of Jaguar Land Rover’s expanding manufacturing operation, while the 141k SF facility will be the new headquarters for Jaguar Land Rover Classic.
***
Software development company Codurance leased 15 Northburg St, EC1 for five years. The company will occupy the fifth floor.
SALES
Trinova sold the freehold interest in 24 Martin Lane, London EC4 to a fund managed by AEW Europe. The property comprises 34k SF of office and retail and is let to seven tenants. The company also acquired Citymark, 150 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh from Ardstone Capital in an off-market transaction. That property provides 102k SF of office accommodation and is leased to Lloyds Banking Group until 2026.
FINANCE
Byron Burgers (founder Tim Byng is shown here) secured £12M to support the expansion of 100 stores in the next three years. Santander and Royal Bank Of Scotland funded the facility.
***
UBS Asset Management’s Global Real Estate arranged a £10.2M term loan facility for the refurbishment of an office building in Bristol, and a £6.5M bridge loan for the conversion of an office property into residences at Millharbour in London’s Docklands.
***
A consortium of Saudi wealth funds has tabled a £1B bid for the Grosvenor House Hotel and an accompanying majority stakes in two New York hotels.
DEVELOPMENT
Sheppard Robson submitted plans to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to create a new community-focused, mixed-use project that will reinvigorate Chrisp Street Market. About 650 homes and 200k SF of new retail space will be built, and a new food store. The community space will include a cinema and work space.
