Chef Richard Corrigan has seen the revenues and profits for his UK restaurants rise in the last year. The timing could not be better as he is embarking on a new venture in Ireland.
Corrigan has three restaurants in London, Corrigan's in Mayfair, Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill and Bentley's Sea Grill at Harrods. Corrigan's company, Richard Corrigan Restaurants Holdings Ltd, saw a 3.9 per cent increase in turnover to £9.4 million to the end of December 2013. Its after tax profit rose from £361,066 in 2012 to £609,841 last year.
Corrigan commented, "Business is brilliant at the moment. London is on a massive roll and doesn't seem to have the peaks and troughs that Ireland goes through."
Corrigan is embarking on a new venture in Ireland after purchasing the Lodge at the Park Hotel in Virginia, Co. Cavan last year for around £1.2 million, according to the Irish Independent. He has spent around £1.1 million upgrading it so far. The Virgina Park Lodge is currently available for large groups and for weddings and also supplies fresh produce to the chef's London restaurants.
He also intends to open a semi-professional cookery school and a restaurant at the Lodge within the next 18 months; creating around 70 new jobs.
