THE group behind Brasserie Blanc restaurants, which has a branch in Walton Street, Oxford, has raised £20m to develop new sites in the UK.

As well as the brasseries, the cash will be ploughed into the White Brasserie Company pub chain.

Mark Derry, chief executive of the Brasseries Bar Co, said: “This capital injection will allow for more rapid expansion of our brasserie businesses.

“It is testament to the resilience of our existing restaurants, which are trading well and providing good returns on investment.”

Oxfordshire-based celebrity chef Raymond Blanc originally established the business as Le Petit Blanc before it went into administration in 2003.

It was taken over by the management team behind the Loch Fyne restaurant chain.

Mr Blanc continues to act as an adviser to the business with executive chef Clive Fretwell, former head chef at his other restaurant and hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Great Milton.