It’s time to reboot and start again.”. “The location is perfect and being part of the critical mass that is Rockpool Dining Group makes it more manageable for everyone,” Pash said. Rockpool Group and Pacific Concepts will operate as separate companies, but there’s no denying it’s been a big few years for the soon-to-be-defunct Rockpool Dining Group. RDG bills itself as “Australia’s largest dining and restaurant group”, spread across four states, with more than over 3000 employees. Perry, who turns 60 this year, maintains his Qantas consultancy of 20 years, and recently consultancy to David Jones, under a separate entity as Rockpool Consulting. Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. A spokesperson for Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, which operates Butcher and the Farmer and the newly opened 6Head at The Rocks, confirmed Sydney-based Crescent Capital Partners has taken a minority stake in the group. Pacific Concepts will be operated by Rockpool Dining Group’s leadership team once the separation is final, with Saké Restaurant & Bar, The Cut, Bar Patrón, Fratelli Fresh, El Camino Cantina, The Bavarian, Munich Brauhaus, Beerhaüs, WingHAÜS by Bavarian and The Argyle all falling in the group’s portfolio. "They said let's see you do a couple of things [overseas] first," the industry veteran explains. A spokesperson confirmed Perry is currently raising funds to buy Rockpool Group which will operate Rockpool Bar and Grill, Rosetta, Spice Temple and R Bar in Crown Melbourne along with the 11 Bridge Street site in Sydney. Pre-order our second cookbook New Classics. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Neil and Trish. Rockpool Dining Group will spend $30 million to bring new restaurants to New Zealand. Bursting full of charisma, this imaginatively designed hotel has 11 bedrooms with fantastic features such as private saunas and hot tubs. ... Rockpool Dining Group owns and operates 74 restaurants throughout Australia. Join over 30,000 subscribers and get all the latest industry news and business tips. It saw the birth of Rockpool Dining Group: 15 brands, 50 venues, 3000 staff and $350 million in turnover uniting key names in Perry's portfolio - Rockpool Bar & Grill, Spice Temple, Rosetta and Burger Project - with Urban Purveyor Group's roster of brands, which includes Saké Restaurant & Bar, The Cut Bar & Grill, and The Bavarian, along with another … Rockpool Dining Group Chairman Jonathon Pearce says the separation “will enable both entities to fully focus on their own strategic and ambitious growth plans, unrestricted by the larger group”. Neil Perry’s Sydney fine diner Eleven Bridge will close in May after less than 12 months, with the chef announcing today that he sold the restaurant. But after eight years as Perry’s head, then executive chef at Rockpool/Eleven Bridge, the sale is also the turning point for Phil Wood, who like previous alumni, Ross Lusted of nearby three-hat fine diner Bridge Room, and Mike McEnearney of No 1 Bent St, will strike out on his own after winning countless awards, including Gourmet Traveller’s 2016 restaurant of the year. Rockpool Dining Group has been split in two with Neil Perry set to reacquire his restaurants in less than 60 days if all goes to plan. Rockpool Dining Group’s portfolio includes 47 venues, 15 dining brands, revenue turnover of $350 million and more than 3000 employees across four states. The group rapidly expanded to more than 70 venues under UPG and employed 3000 workers, however was hit with wage theft accusations in 2018. This month RDG announced it will open its first New Zealand restaurant, The Bavarian, in Auckland in October, with plans to open up to seven restaurants in New Zealand in the next two years. The deal ends Perry’s 28 year career as a restaurant proprietor in partnership with his cousin Trish Richards. “It makes total sense – I don’t think Neil aligned with Urban Purveyor Group, and it seemed like a strange merger to begin with,” the source told Gourmet Traveller. Rockpool Group and Pacific Concepts will operate as separate companies, but there’s no denying it’s been a big few years for the soon-to-be-defunct Rockpool Dining Group. Eleven Bridge will close on May 13. The group rapidly expanded to more than 70 venues under UPG and employed 3000 workers, however was hit with wage theft accusations in 2018. Perry commented on the news to The Australian: “It’s been a little bit difficult not being my own boss,” he said. One of those options was the sale of the group, which is currently owned by Quadrant Private Equity. “After eight years, it’s time for me to seek a new challenge and broaden my career.”. Rockpool Dining Group will pay back more than $1.5 million owed to its staff after a review of its payroll and rosters. Premium brands Sake and Rockpool will follow. Here's what it was like. Chief executive Thomas Pash and Neil Perry met with a number of potential suitors in Asia and North America, and while there was interest Perry says they've decided to act on feedback. RDG is pushing towards an IPO via its owner, Quadrant Private Equity, which previously paid $410 million for VIP Pet Foods. Perry remained on board, with his title on Rockpool Dining Group’s website listed as ‘brand ambassador’, however there were alleged tensions between the chef and Rockpool Dining Group CEO Thomas Pash. Photo / Supplied The expected sale of Rockpool Dining Group has been temporarily sidelined, with the group set to embark on international expansion. We took a 4-hour flight on the new Delta Airbus jet that Boeing tried to keep out of the US. The deal with Quadrant created the Rockpool Dining Group which has continued to grow from Perry's stable of 13 restaurants to a dining behemoth … They have taught me a lot about the industry, for which I’ll be forever indebted to them.