London property firm's restaurant strategy pays off

London

THE dynamism of London's food scene in recent years hasn't been good only for chefs and diners. It's proved a boon for property companies such as Shaftesbury plc, which owns real estate across the West End.

A successful restaurant can become a destination, creating a buzz and boosting demand at neighbouring stores.

"Restaurants have become increasingly important," says Julia Wilkinson, who is responsible for restaurant strategy at Shaftesbury.

The company owns clusters of properties, or "villages", in areas such as Soho and Covent Garden. These usually feature sto…