Restaurant operator Clapham House has sold its Bombay Bicycle Club (BBC) chain to Gourmet Restaurant Group, operator of rival Indian food chain Tiffinbites, for £4.4m.

The BBC estate includes three restaurants and 15 take away kitchens. Clapham plans to use the proceeds from the sale to fund the expansion of its other concepts – Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Tootsies and The Real Greek.

Tiffinbites currently operates eight outlets in the Greater London area, including sites in Harrods and Selfridges, with planned franchised branches in Oxford, Leeds and Birmingham.

In addition, an international expansion plan will see the opening of two sites in Dubai in October.

BBC is the second chain to be taken over by Tiffinbites in the last month, following its acquisition of Vama.

The Vama Group consists of a fine dining restaurant on King's Road, London, Khana by Vama which supplies catering for the airline market, as well as a corporate event and wedding catering business. The Gourmet Restaurant Group also operates a large wholesale catering business to blue chip companies across the UK.

Jamal Hirani, CEO and founder of Gourmet Restaurant Group, said: "The acquisition today completes the group's offering and ensures our presence in all areas of the Indian dining market."

Bombay Bicycle was founded in 1986. Clapham House acquired the chain in April 2004 for £2.4m, when it operated one restaurant and five takeaway delivery units across London.

Paul Campbell, chief executive of Clapham House, said: "Whilst we are sad to see The Bombay Bicycle Club leave our portfolio, it is predominantly a home delivery business with a different pricing point and a longer period for return on capital than our other brands.

"We believe that at the current time it is appropriate to strengthen our balance sheet and focus resources on our pure restaurant businesses, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Tootsies and The Real Greek."