Ivy, Annabel’s, Sexy Fish: a London gem gets a Middle Eastern future

A whole facet of London hospitality is about to change. Richard Caring recently completed the sale of a majority stake in his empire – from The Ivy to Annabel’sScott’s and Sexy Fish – to Diafa, an Abu Dhabi-based investor affiliated with the IHC Group. Valued at over £1.4 billion, the deal brings to a close a process that began in late 2023 and has long been uncertain. At 77, the “King of Mayfair” is not disappearing from the landscape: he retains his role as executive chairman. But a new dynamic is taking shape. With Diafa (already present behind Zuma and Roka) and the arrival of Ravi Thakran at the helm, the group is clearly displaying its international ambitions, with its sights set on expansion into the United States. An Annabel’s is due to open soon in New York. In a British context under pressure, this transaction sends out a strong signal. More than ever, prestige gastronomy remains a global playground. Mayfair retains its aura, but its center of gravity is beginning to shift.