Le Gavroche auction exceeds £2m

The two-part auction held by Christie’s saw registrants from 39 countries bid on items that included the restaurant’s guest book, the ‘Le Gavroche’ Boy painting which hung prominently in the restaurant since its inception in 1967, and the restaurant’s crockery and glassware.

The second part of the auction was for the restaurant’s wine cellar, with 670 lots raising a total of £1,877,038. The combined total of both auctions was £2,269,276.

The sale of the restaurant guest book alone raised £37,800, greatly surpassing its estimate of £3,000-5,000. The book contains more than 500 signatures from acclaimed visitors over the years including Charlie Chaplin, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Barbra Streisand.

The illuminated Le Gavroche restaurant sign sold for £30,240, significantly exceeding its estimate of £1,000-1,500 price tag.

The auction also offered a private three-course meal for six guests at Christie’s King Street, cooked by Michel Roux, which achieved £18,900, with the proceeds to be donated to industry charity Hospitality Action.

“I am delighted with the results of the two-part auction celebrating the cherished artworks, special items and wines from Le Gavroche. It has been truly remarkable witnessing such spirited bidding for pieces of the restaurant’s rich history,” says Roux.

“These items hold immense significance for the Roux family, and I am pleased to see these iconic pieces find new homes.”

Le Gavroche closed earlier this year​​ after 57 years of trading.