Gordon Ramsay sets sights on Asia

Gordon Ramsay is expanding his restaurant empire into Asia, confirming plans to launch a venture in Hong Kong this September.

The original Bread Street Kitchen in London

The chef will open a branch of his Bread Street Kitchen restaurant, whose original outlet is in London’s City district, in Hong Kong’s Central business quarter. The Gordon Ramsay Group will work on a consultancy and licensing basis in partnership with Hong Kong restaurant specialist Dining Concepts.

The Asian version of Bread Street Kitchen aims to mirror the London original with a warehouse-style design and British European menu.

Announcing the news, Ramsay said: “This is an exciting step for the Group, not only to be entering Asia, which has such an amazing food culture but also to bringing our London concepts which have been such a success, to new markets.”

Gordon Ramsay Holdings, which operates 12 restaurants in London, including the 3-Michelin Star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, confirmed that it is also in discussions with the Las Vegas Sands casino and resort group about expanding into Singapore and Macau.

Commenting on this first step for the group into Asia, GRH managing director Stuart Gillies said: “As a globally renowned group we get many invitations to expand internationally but its important that we work with the right partner who can ensure that our high quality experiences can be delivered.”

With the group expected to launch further Asian projects later this year and in 2015, Gillies concluded: “We are really excited about opening in Asia and believe there is a lot of growth potential not just for Bread Street Kitchen but other concepts in our London collection.”

This move into Asia sees Ramsay follow in the steps of his protégée Jason Atherton, who has already opened restaurants in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai, with a new venture due to launch in Dubai later this year.