British dining tycoon eyes Hong Kong expansion
British nightlife entrepreneur Matt Hermer is sensitive to local preferences ashe considers expanding Hong Kong portfolio, writes Tiffany Ap
If one common thread linked the most anticipated openings in Hong Kong's dining and nightlife scene during the past year, it was the Big British Names.
Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Jason Atherton all put down roots in the city, or expanded them. Now Matt Hermer, who already owns the exclusive Pottinger Street nightclub Boujis, plus a portfolio of overseas bars and restaurants under the Ignite Group, is set to keep that trend going through to next year.
In town recently to celebrate the second anniversary of Boujis, sister to the original South Kensington venue of the same name, Hermer is ready to embark on a second Hong Kong venture. He's launching a local edition of his slick cocktail bar Eclipse, which has locations in London and Barcelona, and is a concept he's also expanding to the Middle East.
Within the year, Hongkongers can expect to be sipping on the bar's signature watermelon martini on the slopes of SoHo, although Hermer's keeping mum on exactly where, and when.
"We've got lots of expansion to do in the next 12 months and it's a question of priority. I can't be on a plane the whole time nor do I want to be," says Hermer, who visits the city three to four times a year. "I've always said it was obvious that we should have more than one venue. From a management perspective there are economies of scale."
