Will Smith and Anthony Demetre unveil details of third London restaurant

Michelin-starred restaurateurs Will Smith and Anthony Demetre have unveiled the name and head chef of their third London restaurant, which is set to open in the West End in September.

The co-owners of the critically acclaimed Arbutus and Wild Honey restaurants are calling the new venue, which will be an affordably priced French brasserie, Les Deux Salons.

Smith told Caterersearch that the name was chosen to reflect the restaurant’s concept. “Names are always challenging and difficult to come up with but we wanted something French as its going to be a classic brasserie full of classic brasserie dishes,” he said.

Smith will head up the front of house at Les Deux Salons, which is located on William IV Street in Covent Garden, while Demetre will oversee the kitchen together with head chef Craig Johnson, who has worked with the pair at Arbutus, Wild Honey and their former Michelin-starred London restaurant Putney Bridge.

Spread over two floors, the new restaurant will seat 100 on the ground and 50 on the first floor. It will also include a bar area and two private dining rooms.

Interiors will be developed by renowned interior designer Martin Brudnizki, whose other projects have included Soho House Group’s latest venture Dean Street Tonwhouse, the Club at the Ivy and St Pancras Grand.

As with their other two restaurants, affordability will be a key consideration at Les Deux Salons. “We want it to be fantastic value – with plats du jour and the wine carafe concept we introduced at Arbutus and an average spend of about £18.50,” said Smith.

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By Tom Vaughan

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