David Collins to stir Nobutoo style

The partners behind Nobu, the world famous chain of Japanese restaurants, are planning to open a second London location called Nobutoo in the heart of Mayfair, eight years after the launch of the first Nobu at The Metropolitan Hotel, London.

David Collins Architecture & Design has been appointed to design the development and Isometrix is creating the lighting strategy for the venue.

Nobutoo will be situated at former private members establishment the Mayfair Club, at 15 Berkeley Street. The club has been closed since 2003. Nobutoo will be run by a dedicated company, Nobu Berkeley.

Planning applications have been submitted to develop a bar, dancefloor and seating area on the ground floor of the building. The upper floor will hold further restaurant seating, a sushi bar and two dispensing bars. The premises will incorporate retail space, located on Berkeley Street, into the scheme.

Additional design details, concepts and launch dates are being kept firmly under wraps, but sources close to the project suggest Nobutoo may have a private members dining club element.

A spokeswoman for Nobu confirms, ‘We have plans for another Nobu location and David Collins is involved, but we cannot reveal anything else.’

Nobu’s partners have been on the hunt for a suitable second Nobu venue for almost three years, seeking to develop a restaurant that could operate over extended hours to enable a second sitting.

Nobu’s partners include actor Robert De Niro, restaurateur Drew Nieporent and hotel owner Christina Ong. The restaurant, which opened in 1997, turns away approximately 150 customers per day.

The Nobu network has sites in New York, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Malibu, Milan, Miami and Paris, as well as a similar, sushi-style restaurant, Ubon, in Canary Wharf, London.

David Collins was unavailable for comment as Design Week went to press.