What a week it has been; at one point I thought that we would never sign. Then on Friday, I received a call from my lawyer saying that we had exchanged contract.
The only thing that can stop us now is Westminster council not granting us a new Licence.
Retrospectively, I feel that the deal has been very smooth and I am glad that I can start planning the opening of my restaurant.
12 years at Roussillon is a long time but I could have gone on for another 25 years.
It is a real pity that my business partners did not share my enthusiasm, hopes and desire for the future. They were too busy planning their own exit strategies. It took a long time for me to realise that but it is never too late.
So I could go on and develop on how I have been taken for a foul; how I have been taken for ride; how I have been lied to; how they lured me into thinking that they were truly interested in taking Roussillon to another level....That was just bullshit!
It is better not to look back- I have learned from my naivety and can move on.
My timing is very straight forward- the restaurant is going to open in exactly 77 days= 4th May 2010.
77 days to concretise my thoughts. I have a very clear idea of how I want my restaurant to look like.
I also know too well that he has to be THE restaurant I would love to visit on a regular basis. I always think that if you are true to your feelings, patrons will feel comfortable to visit you.
I'll develop on the real identity of the restaurant in later blogs.
Currently, I am in Bangkok, visiting my restaurant (La Table de Tee) and enjoying a bit of free time with Clive (my partner) and our 2 children- Arthur 4 & Anais 18months old.
I just read this post and am very sorry to hear that you have left/are leaving Roussillon. I first ate there almost 8 years ago with my now wife and parents in law. In fact we are returning this weekend to celebrate my wife's thirtieth birthday (at my father in law's suggestion - you stuck in his memory). I do hope the meal will live up to expectations despite this sad news and wish you the best of luck with your new venture in London.
ReplyDeleteIan Benjamin
Please let me know where you are going/will be opening. I will be in London in May, and would very much like to be one of your first customers that week!
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