We have recently discovered that St Alban, the restaurant from The Wolseley owners Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, has closed. Apparently, the closure was not recession-struck but rather the result of an unbeatable offer on the lease.

As restaurant critic Jay Rayner wrote on The Guardian website, “St Alban, with its smart Mediterranean menu and decor reminiscent of a business class airline lounge, simply never found a place in the affections of the city.”

Fans of uber-successful The Wolseley on Piccadilly will be pleased to learn that Corbin and King are planning a Wolseley-style grand cafe in the old Theatre Museum site in Covent Garden and a venture at the top of the Bishopsgate Tower development in the city.

For owners of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE, please be aware that the St Alban restaurant listing on page 59 is no longer valid.