David Page, chair of The Clapham House restaurant group and the founder of the PizzaExpress chain, is to float a new business next week.

The company, Clerkenwell Ventures, will look for acquisition possibilities within the leisure industry, though it is not expected to be another restaurant group.

Clerkenwell Ventures’ George Jones told Leisure Opportunities that the new company was being set up because Clapham House had been offered many interesting opportunities that it couldn’t follow up as they were outside the restaurant sector.

The company is thought to have its first acquisition in the pipeline though details have yet to be revealed.

Clapham House Group owns the Real Greek and Bombay Bicycle Club brands and is rolling both concepts out, while a third acquisition is also currently under negotiation.