Maxwell’s gets Sticky Fingers

Restaurateur Brian Stein is adding to his empire with the purchase of a majority shareholding in Sticky Fingers, the restaurant launched by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in 1989.

Stein, managing director of the Maxwell’s Restaurant Group, which owns the Maxwell’s, PJ’s, Roadhouse, Navajo Joe and Cactus Blue brands, is buying the controlling stake, reportedly worth about £2m, with Wyman retaining a smaller share in the business.

The last remaining Sticky Fingers venue, in Kensington, West London will remain a “standalone brand”, according to Stein. Branches in Manchester and Cambridge were sold last year. “As a brand, Sticky Fingers has a lot of credibility. We will streamline the administration and back of house and bring it into the 21st century. We aim to expand into the provinces and will move ahead within a year,” he adds.

Stein, who oversees all design work in the group, claims there are no plans to rebrand Sticky Fingers or revamp its interiors, but says the Maxwell’s brand will “continue to expand” in the future.