Gordeno eyes nightclubs

Jeremy Gordeno, who quit as chief executive of Soho Clubs & Bars last month, is close to buying a group of 14 leasehold nightclubs.

The venues are mostly independently-operated sites but are believed to include a batch owned by an established nightclub company.

Gordeno - whose 20% holding in Soho was bought by majority shareholder Geoffrey Rose - will own all of his new business.

It is clear Gordeno's amicable departure from Soho last month was triggered by a fundamental disagreement over strategy.

Gordeno, who tendered his resignation in October last

year, wanted to expand the

company by placing an emphasis on acquisitions outside the West End.

It is thought Rose, Soho's majority shareholder, was keen to focus on the West End.

Gordeno said: "I believe that with nightclub sites in the London suburbs gaining 3am

or 4am licences there will be an adverse effect on Soho.

"Elsewhere, in places like Brighton, there are a lot of clubs with 5am licences. I believe that, in the era after licensing reform, there will be a potentially negative effect on central London."

Gordeno was keen to acquire the Po Na Na operator Barvest, which was being sold by Avanti Capital during his time at Soho. The company is believed to have withdrawn from the auction now.

Of his new venture, for which no company name has yet been chosen, Gordeno added: "The venues are nationwide, with sites in Manchester, Brighton and Blackpool.

"The smallest has a capacity of 500 and the largest 1,000."