Vincent Gerbeau
Award-Winning Restaurateur & Consultant

An award-winning restaurateur & businessman with a unique personal brand, Vincent has extensive experience in the catering business, including 14 years spent as founder/owner and Managing Director of two unique French restaurants in SW London.

Combining high standards with creative flair, his business and marketing strategy for the restaurants – the Retro in Hampton Court and Retro Bistrot in Teddington - led to awards that include The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year 2012, two forks Michelin and two AA Rosettes.  A lover of new ideas and design, Vincent also has a strong set of practical leadership and business skills, including communication, decision-making, problem-solving and financial planning. 

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As a business owner he has acquired investment, overseen the design of the interior, hired and managed staff. He has overseen all aspects of the financial accounts closely from P&L, payroll to audits, marketing & PR and of course worked closely with his head chefs to create top quality menus.

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As a consultant and industry troubleshooter, Vincent has continued to drive progress and profits at big name restaurants, including Big Easy, Figo & Cuvee. 

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Vincent is a keen moderniser with the goal of maximising profit. The Retro Bistrot was one of the first restaurants to commission its own loyalty app, creating a unique relationship with customers and allowing them to book direct. With a keen eye for marketing opportunities Vincent also succeeds in giving his business a real sense of personality, while aligning himself with high quality products. 

 

Creating key relationships with luxury brands Vincent appeared in Classic car magazine to cross promote the Jaguar sports car alongside his business. His relationship with top designers such as Ozwald Boateng led to him being featured in The Sunday Times Style magazine.  Vincent and his restaurant also featured in the Mail on Sunday You magazine, and the Retro Bistrot has featured several times in trade magazine The Caterer.

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Vincent developed good relationships with local businesses; was actively involved in the local community and appeared regularly in the local press.  Popular with his customers who appreciated his sense of style and sense of humour, Vincent was known as “a wearer of wonderful waistcoats and an impressive quiff”.

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Working at high-profile Michelin-starred restaurants Vincent’s background includes working with celebrity chefs Brian Turner, Gary Rhodes, Jeff Galvin and Paul Merrett at the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair, and as Manager and Maitre d’ for top chef Max Renzland at Monsieur Max in Hampton Hill.

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His roles have included managing high-profile events at which he has hosted the likes of Margaret Thatcher, the late Princess Diana, Tony Blair and a host of other business luminaries and celebrities.

 

With a thorough understanding of luxury Michelin-starred restaurants, Vincent demands and achieves very high standards from the team. Working from the floor up he has a 360-degree perspective of the restaurant business with a strong commitment to developing both the business and the talent within a team. His team management skills at The Greenhouse earned the business accreditation by Investors in People.

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