One of London’s most recognisable hospitality portfolios has changed hands, with Annabel’s—long considered the city’s definitive private members’ club—now part of a £1.4 billion transaction that signals a new phase for the sector. The deal sees Richard Caring sell his wider group—including Annabel’s, The Ivy Collection, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, and the Birley Clubs portfolio (George, Harry’s Bar, Mark’s Club)—to DIAFA, a UAE-backed investor affiliated with IHC Group, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan. It stands as one of the largest transactions in the history of the UK restaurant industry. Caring will remain in place as executive chairman, maintaining continuity at the operational level.
The acquisition extends DIAFA’s growing footprint in global hospitality. The group already holds stakes in Zuma and Roka through its acquisition of Azumi, and has been explicit about its ambition to build one of the world’s largest food and beverage platforms. What changes now is scale—and intent. While Annabel’s remains rooted in Berkeley Square, the strategy is expected to shift outward, with international expansion a clear priority. The Ivy Collection, in particular, is understood to be targeting entry into the United States, a move that would test whether one of London’s most recognisable dining formats can translate globally. For a portfolio built on heritage, access, and tightly controlled identity, the question is no longer ownership—but how far that identity can travel. Visit.
