Balham’s popular Ferrari’s restaurant has been acquired by the Locale group and will be converted - over just four days and at a cost of £100,000 - into one of the company’s renowned modern Italian restaurants.
To be known as Locale Balham, the restaurant will become the sixth member of the owner-operated group, joining other eateries in Fulham, Waterloo (opposite County Hall), Blackheath, East Dulwich and Bromley, Kent.
“Ferrari’s Balham is a much-loved part of the community”, says Locale operations director Mark Evans. “We will continue to offer customers everything that they enjoy about Ferrari’s while introducing elements of the Locale menu and service values that have proved so successful in our other locations.”
Locale restaurants combine cutting-edge Italian cuisine with a warm, relaxing atmosphere, efficient yet unintrusive service and - that one vital ingredient today - value for money. Locale Balham will seat 100 diners, with further space for 30 at the bar and 50 on the outside terrace.
The restaurant will close for the refurbishment from Monday 18 May and re-open on Friday 22 May 2009. The refurbishment will be masterminded by award-winning interior designer Brigitte D’Angelo whose previous credits include ‘Apartment 195’ in Chelsea and ‘Venue’ magazine’s Bar Of The Year 2008, ‘Start The Bus’ in Bristol. The restaurant’s stylish new bar will offer a range of specially-created cocktails and a full selection of beers, spirits and carefully-selected wines from Italy.
Locale Balham’s general manager, Enzo Begu, moves over from Locale County Hall and the food operation will be under the day-to-day supervision of the group’s colourful executive chef, Gianpaolo Barone. “As a local resident myself”, says Mark Evans, “I will constantly be on hand to ensure that Locale Balham fully lives up to customer expectations.”
“We are looking forward to playing a positive role in the local community”, Evans continues. “We will be attempting to buy as much produce as possible from local suppliers, and will be introducing initiatives to benefit good causes within the borough, and beyond.”
