Celebrity restaurant Scott’s of London scouts for locations in Dublin
One of the world’s most famous restaurants, Scott’s of Mayfair in London, is making plans to open in Dublin. Representatives of the upscale restaurant adored by royals, high-rollers and A-list celebrities have been secretly scouting prime city-centre locations to launch the renowned seafood restaurant.
The news will be welcomed by the restaurant industry here which has seen almost 600 restaurant closures since the Government hiked their Vat bills by 50pc last September.
This weekend, a source told the Sunday Independent that Caprice Holdings, the group that owns Scott’s and The Ivy, “is actively looking for locations” to open.
Last October, Caprice Holdings swung back into profit for the first time since the pandemic. Sales rebounded by just over 70pc to £74.4m (€87.7m) over the 52 weeks to January 2023.
In the past year, the group has also opened The Ivy Restaurant in Belfast.
The same source said: “They’ve been in touch with letting agents. It’s just a matter of finding the best location.
“They’re looking for a character building with high ceilings and possibly an outdoor terrace. But with so few good spaces available it isn’t easy to find.
“It’s not a desperate requirement; when the right place comes up, they’ll take it.”
The source added: “[The group] is also talking about opening [its sister restaurant] The Ivy Asia.
“So depending on what space comes up next and which restaurant it suits, that will be the first to open.”
It is understood Caprice Holdings is keen on a securing a prime spot for Scott’s in the Dublin 2 area, with Dawson Street being their location of choice.
Known as “Britain’s grandest restaurant” and one of the surest places in London for celebrity sightings, Scott’s boasts a potent history.
It was where James Bond creator Ian Fleming decided he liked his martinis “shaken not stirred”, and it was also name-checked by the prisoners in The Great Escape as a post-wartime nirvana.
In 1988, the late writer Kingsley Amis reviewed the restaurant calling the décor “luxurious to the safe side of vulgarity”.
Its London location has a wood-panelled dining room hung with superstar artists (Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Gary Hume) and a glittering centrepiece shellfish bar.
Famous past diners include Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson ate at Scott’s at least three times a week until the art collector and dealer was snapped at an outdoor table putting his hands around the food writer’s throat.
Afterwards, Saatchi insisted the “gesture” was misinterpreted, even after accepting a police caution for assault, but Lawson moved out of their Chelsea home and announced they were divorcing.