Gordon Ramsay to open in Macau: Gordon Ramsay Group, in partnership with Sands China, will open its first restaurant in Sands Cotai Central, Macau. Sands Cotai Central is part of the integrated resort city of Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macau. The restaurant by Gordon Ramsay Group will join a number of other establishments including the Golden Peacock, Zi Yat Heen, Dynasty and Copa Steakhouse. Gordon Ramsay said: “We will be working closely with the Sands China team on the ground to tailor one of our current concepts to this unique market in order to deliver a first-class dining experience, and are looking forward to opening in Macau.” Charles Newland, senior vice president of food and beverage and director of Piaza Operations, added: “Sands China is constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to further contribute to the development of Macao as a centre for tourism and leisure. To see Ramsay’s internationally-acclaimed restaurant empire expand to Sands Cotai Central is an important milestone for Sands China.”

Chilango secures flagship London Bridge site: Mexican brand Chilango has secured, through agent Davis Coffer Lyons, the former Great Wall of China Restaurant on Tooley Street near London Bridge for a premium of £350,000. This is the tenth site for the expanding brand and the second since it secured £2m of funding through a mini bond issue – conducted through UK crowdfunding website, Crowdcube last summer. Chilango has taken the prominent 1,800 sq ft unit on the remainder of a 20-year lease at a rent of £100,000. Rob Meadows, associate director at Davis Coffer Lyons said: “London Bridge is immensely popular and there was intense competition for this site. We successfully negotiated the assignment on behalf of Chilango. The real benefit is that the station will exit immediately opposite once further redevelopment work has completed. In addition, the retail landscape has now been fixed here and I don’t expect much new space to be created in the immediate vicinity. In short, this is a unique location and it took three years to negotiate the deal.” Eric Partaker, co-founder of Chilango, added: “This is a truly epic location for Chilango. We’ve built Chilango to deliver world-class food, head-to-head with the UK’s top brands, in some of the most competitive trading environments. As such, our new More London location fits the bill perfectly.”

MEATliquor confirms Singapore joint venture: MEATliquor founders Scott Collins and Yianni Papoutsis have confirmed they have chosen Singapore as their first outpost outside the UK, as part of their international expansion of the brand. The 100-seater site will be located in the Duxton Hill area continuing the duo’s theme of opening in non-traditional, discreet, off the beaten track locations. MEATliquor’s seventh site in under five years will be a joint venture with Jacques Dejardin’s The Blind Group that currently operates further concepts in Singapore including restaurant and bar, Oxwell & Co and underground cocktail bar, Operation Dagger. MEATliquor Singapore’s menu will include a mix of brand new locally sourced Singapore ingredients. Tried and tested favourites will become transatlantic with Singapore dishes being served up on UK menus later in the year. Commenting on the new opening founders Scott Collins and Yianni Papoutsis said: “We were invited out by Jacques. The airport code of SIN alone suggested this might be the place for us. Three days of eating and drinking later, we had our suspicions confirmed.” Jacques Dejardin, of The Blind Group, added: “We can’t wait to introduce Singapore residents, workers and globetrotters to MEATliquor. We have been fans of everything they have done in the UK and we’re excited to see MEATliquor’s take on Asia.” MEATliquor Singapore is set to open its doors in May 2015.