D&D London, formerly known as Conran Restaurants, has announced that it has agreed terms to acquire Image Restaurants, the owner of The Avenue, Kensington Place and Launceston Place in London. These three restaurants in their most recent annual published results reported aggregate sales of £6.4m and operating profits of £0.7m. Following the acquisition, Chris Bodker is to join the D&D London board as a non-executive director.

Des Gunewardena, Chairman and CEO of D&D London, said “These are very good restaurants. Kensington Place and The Avenue in particular are two of the restaurants that defined the renaissance of eating out in London in the 1990’s, and they continue to be popular and successful. I am very excited that they will be joining the D&D London group. I am also looking forward to welcoming Chris Bodker, whom I have known for many years, onto our Board.”

Chris Bodker, CEO of Image Restaurants, said “D&D London’s portfolio of restaurants is second to none. They have reshaped the way we eat out in this country and are now spreading their skills overseas. I am delighted that our restaurants are going to such a good home, one that is so professional in all aspects of the industry. Our shareholders, staff and suppliers can only regard this move as good news. 

For my own part, I believe that D&D London will take our restaurants on to a new level and I look forward to playing a modest part in that. Accordingly, I am delighted to be joining the Board of D&D London and wish Des Gunewardena, David Loewi and their team every possible success.”

Trevor Shelley of Shelley Sandzer advised Image Restaurants on this transaction.