UK - Octopus acquires Smollensky's restaurant group

Octopus Private Equity has supported the acquisition of London restaurant group Smollensky’s. Octopus has committed £6m alongside senior debt from Alliance & Leicester to support the acquisition. Octopus is backing restaurateur Paul Lilley, whose past successes include the turnaround of the Aberdeen Angus Steakhouse business, to run the Group, which constitutes Smollensky’s along with Lilley’s existing restaurant business, Le Frog Bistros.