Thesleff Group has announced that it has acquired Knightsbridge Italian restaurant Sale e Pepe from seasoned manager Toni Corricelli.
The group, founded in 2019 by Markus Thesleff, also operates Mexican-Japanese restaurant Los Mochis and cocktail bar Viajante87 and has acquired the celebrated Italian restaurant ahead of its 50th anniversary next year.
Just off Sloane Square, Sale e Pepe has been a popular haunt of the rich and famous for almost five decades, with illustrious past patrons including Roger Moore, Priscilla Presley and Ringo Starr.
Among the dishes that the restaurant is celebrated for are linguine all’aragosta (with lobster, cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic) and sogliola alla mugnaia (Dover sole). New dishes, including vitello tonnato (thinly-sliced veal with a tuna and caper sauce) and insalata di granchio (crab salad), will be added to the menu.
Corricelli, the original manager of Sale e Pepe, said: “Since 1974 it has been an honour and a pleasure to be of service during my time at Sale e Pepe. It took me awhile to find the right person to pass the baton onto and I believe Markus and the Thesleff Group are the best choice to carry on the tradition of S&P with the same enthusiasm and dedication in serving not only the Knightsbridge clientele but London, the UK and the rest of the world.”
Speaking about the acquisition, Thesleff said: “We are really excited and inspired to be the new custodians of Sale e Pepe of Knightsbridge, one of the most iconic restaurants in London. Its a very rare opportunity to be able to acquire such a rich legacy steeped in almost 50-years of history. We are really proud that Toni has trusted us with this iconic brand and institution.”
