The group, which is behind restaurant chains Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company, has exchanged contracts with Paramount Restaurants, formerlly Groupe Chez Gerard Restaurants, for the outlets that are all based in London and inclue a key location at the Covent Garden Opera Terrace.

Brasserie Bar Co expects to invest a further £4 million to refurbish the restaurants and rebrand them into Brasserie Blancs. The rolling programme should be completed by the end of next year, and the company aims to grow to a total of 40 outlets by 2016.

The deal comes three months after Brasserie Bar Co raised £20 million of new capital from its private equity backer Core Capital and gives the business a significant presence in London’s West End and City. With the addition of these new sites the estate will grow to a total of 19 outlets, including nine existing Brasserie Blancs and two White Brasserie pubs. The restaurants joining the group are located at Bishopsgate, Chancery Lane, Charlotte Street, Covent Garden, St Pauls, Southbank, and the Tower of London.

Mark Derry, chief executive at Brasserie Bar Co, comments, ‘We are delighted to have secured these prime locations for Brasserie Blanc which will give us significant traction in central London and progresses Raymond Blanc’s dream of bringing quality French food to the high street.

‘Our strategy, when we raised £20 million of new equity in September, was to expand our brasserie businesses particularly in London and the South East. This acquisition gives us eight new Brasserie Blancs and increases the number of covers we serve to over 2,000.’