Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has thrown his weight behind a new east London pub venture, launched by old school friend and Fifteen head chef Jon Rotheram, and Michelin-starred chef Tom Harris.
Harris, Rotheram & Co, plans to buy the Marksman pub in Hackney, create a new dining area on the first floor, and build a charcuterie and bakery in the basement.
Next year, the Marksman will also launch a boutique hotel above the restaurant. “There will be six rooms available, which isn’t many, but there is a huge demand for good places to stay in the area,” says Harris.
Oliver is a “cornerstone” investor in the start-up, and will be a key adviser for the business. “Jamie’s been very generous with his support,” says Harris.
The two chefs have more than 30 years’ combined experience in high-end London restaurants, and have worked together for eight years at St John in Smithfield. “Investors seem to worry that we’ll come to blows in the kitchen but we haven’t had an argument yet,” says Harris. “We’re not Gordon Ramsay type chefs. There’s no aggression.”
Harris, Rotheram & Co does not plan to follow the typical restaurant model. “We’re not going to roll out the same thing over and over again,” explains Harris. “We’d like to do a fish restaurant next, then maybe try a bakery or another retail idea. “
Rotheram and Harris put up £100,000 of their own savings as seed capital and are hoping to raise a further £2.4m to buy the freehold on the Marksman pub, and to fund its refurbishment. Part of the investment will be secured through Daedalus Partners using the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme, the remainder through angel crowdfunding platform Q Ventures, and individual investors.
The restaurant will reflect the Michelin roots of its founders, says Harris. “We’ll be doing our signature seasonal British food. We’re not going to dumb down the restaurant’s cuisine just because there’s a pub downstairs.
The Q Ventures platform was a natural funding partner for the Marksman project, he adds. “Its super-angel network is full of entrepreneurs, who can provide invaluable advice.”
Q Ventures members include: Mind Candy CEO Michael Acton Smith, Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins, the founder of Moonpig, and Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks.
The new Marksman will be open by early December.
