D&D shrugs off the downturn with a raft of celebrity parties

By DAILY MAIL
Updated: 03:20 EST, 7 January 2011

A raft of celebrity parties, including one linked to the movie premiere of Burlesque, boosted sales for the restaurant chain behind London's Pont de la Tour, Coq d'Argent, and Skylon.

D&D London, a 30-restaurant group created by Sir Terence Conran, saw underlying sales for December rise 3 per cent as bookings for corporate events bounced back, the Mail can reveal.

Chief executive Des Gunewardenam, inset, said diners shrugged off the downturn to eat out in London's West End but it was a different story in the City where bankers kept a low profile and did not want to be seen living it up.

Posh: D&D London, a 30-restaurant group created by Sir Terence Conran

The UK's largest privately-owned restaurant group said the star performer was its Gustavino's venue in New York.

Gunewardena said: 'What we are seeing is New York recovering faster than London and I don't think there is the same stigma there about being seen enjoying yourself.'

D&D's Alcazar venue in Paris also performed strongly but Gunewardena said snow had wiped 5 per cent of sales in the UK.

'The nature of our business means if people can't get to our restaurants, they can't eat their meals online,' he said.