Search

How can we help?

Icon

Clarkslegal advises Chef Emily Roux in Joining Her Family’s London Restaurant Dynasty

Clarkslegal, led by real estate lawyer Simon Ralphs, advised Chef Emily Roux on all of the property aspects of her new venture Caractère.

Shortly after the deal completed Emily commented, “Simon is extremely responsive and made the legal jargon very understandable, I would recommend him for any restaurant acquisition.“ 

Roux will open Caractère on the corner of Ledbury and Westbourne Park Roads later this year

The Roux “dynasty” is set for new a chapter. Emily Roux will become the third generation of the famous Anglo-French Roux family to operate their own restaurant in the U.K. (her grandfather Albert and father Michel Jr have run Mayfair restaurant Le Gavroche since 1981) when she launches a new venture called Caractère later this year in west London’s Notting Hill.

The restaurant, formerly the neighbourhood gastropub-cum-bistro Bumpkin, sits at the junction of Ledbury Road and Westbourne Park Roads. The corner site is 2,500sq ft and includes a host of notable (fine dining) neighbours: The Ledbury, for one. And CORE by Clare Smyth. Other famous local names include 108 Garage, Granger & Co and Beach Blanket Babylon.

About her first solo venture, Roux said that she would open the restaurant with her Italian husband. Considering her own French roots, she announced that “there’d be a mix of French Italian food” on offer.

Caractère, which is French for “character”, is described as the “imagining of a dream shared by husband and wife team Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari,” where “their characters and traits will come alive in this Notting Hill venue, their first very own restaurant.”

Roux has made no secret of the expectations that accompany her family name: “I left for France because I wanted to be more anonymous without the pressure of being a Roux,” she says on her website.

“I’m lucky enough to have been taught by some of the greatest chefs in the world, but I wanted to be able to find my own feet and make my own name. It was easier to do that away from the UK.”

But it will always be a difficult name to shake off: Speaking on behalf of a private landlord, James Grimes, a director at the property advisors AG&G, said his client was delighted to have “secured such a prestigious family name and reputation into its premises.”

“The attention to detail of Emily and her advisors so far as the planned fit out is concerned, bodes well for the business focus they will have when it opens. I am sure it will be a great success,” he added.

Read Article – EATER London

 

Chambers and Partners

“Very professional, knowledgeable and accessible lawyers.” 

About this article

Disclaimer
This information is for guidance purposes only and should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice. Please refer to the full General Notices on our website.

About this article

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

art
  • 08 July 2025
  • Corporate and M&A

Share buybacks and what to do when they are void!

A share buyback is when a company purchases its own shares from a shareholder. However, for a limited company to successfully purchase its own shares, it must comply with Part 18 of the Companies Act (CA) 2006.

art
  • 07 July 2025
  • Commercial Real Estate

Climate change risks in property transactions

Climate change is starting to affect our lives to a greater extent than experienced before. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves are becoming a frequent occurrence.

art
  • 04 July 2025
  • Employment

Update: The ‘Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap’

The Employment Rights Bill is a draft law which is poised to expand the rights of employees, signifying a major overhaul in employment law. The ERB has already been passed by the House of Commons and is currently at the ‘Report Stage’ in the House of Lords.

Pub
  • 03 July 2025
  • Corporate and M&A

Get your tech business market ready for sale

In our latest podcast, join Stuart Mullins and Nicky Goringe Larkin to learn how to maximise your tech business value and get your tech business market ready for sale.

art
  • 03 July 2025
  • Immigration

Major Changes to the Immigration Rules from 1 July 2025: What Employers and Visa Holders Need to Know

We outline the key updates, how they affect employers and visa holders—particularly those on the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes—and how our team can assist you in staying compliant and ahead of policy changes.

art
  • 02 July 2025
  • Employment

Day One Rights: What the New UK Employment Bill Means for You and Your Workplace

Let’s unpack what’s changing in the UK Employments Rights Bill, and why it matters, and what both employees and employers should expect.