Conran keeps expanding

But restaurant chief resigns to join Ivy league

FOLLOWING on from his recent announcements about new London eateries, Conran has revealed more restaurant plans – this time for Scotland. He intends to open two new venues in central Glasgow.

The first is Étain, a modern French eatery, which is described as Conran’s first "destination restaurant" in the UK outside the capital.

The interior is being designed by Conran & Partners and the eatery will be located in Glasgow’s Springfield Court.  The second restaurant is the latest Zinc Bar & Grill which will reside in the Princes Square shopping centre.

Further developments at Zinc concern the Birmingham outlet which has relaunched its first floor as a cocktail and Champagne bar called "Upstairs @ Zinc".  This now features mirror-topped tables, red leather sofas and a white marble bar surrounded by leather stools (pictured above).

The former show kitchen is screened off with a custom made illuminated blue glass and aluminium wall.  Meanwhile, the managing director of Conran Restaurants, David Loewi, has resigned and will leave the company in July.

In a development that will have the UK restaurant scene buzzing with anticipation, he has joined forces with the partners behind The Ivy’s success, Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, and is believed to be setting up a hotel and restaurant business.