By now, you're likely well aware that beloved London restaurant Le Gavroche has closed its doors for good. Founded in 1967 by late brothers Albert and Michel Roux, and run by Albert's son, Michel Roux junior, for more than three decades between 1991 and 2024, the institution was home to 57 years of rich culinary history which fans will soon be able to take home thanks to an upcoming auction hosted by Christie's.
Running on the auction house's website from 10th to 24th April, according to Christie's representatives the collection will offer more than 100 lots including wine, pictures, drawings, prints, decorative objects, porcelain and silver, all of which were once key to the eatery where Pierre Koffmann, Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Monica Galetti cut their teeth. Keen to know what's worth bidding on? Look no further.
The signage
When it comes to London's restaurant scene, few things are more iconic than the illuminated sign which once sat above the eatery's entrance. Surprisingly, Roux is willing to put it up for sale with a starting price of £1000, which will likely impress your guests far more than the neon live, laugh, love sign you've been pining over.
The guest book
Are David Niven, Andre Previn, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Charlie Chaplin, Mick Jagger, Ginger Rogers, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Terry Wogan, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Brad Pitt or David Gilmour on your dream dinner party list? Well, I hate to break it to you, but having this guestbook in your hallway might be the closest you're going to get. Estimated to go between £6,000 and £8,000, it might even be cheaper than using Cameo....
The 11-year-old Burgundy
Make space in your cellar, because several bottles of the much coveted 2013 vintage Domaine de la Romanee-Conti grand cru will be up for grabs. Expected to reach between £9,000 and £12,000 per bottle, Jancis Robinson described the wine as, 'Very fragrant, showing the meatier side of red burgundy, hinting at possible gaminess to come. Fresh, crunchy redcurrant fruit in abundance. Great health and confidence. A bit more than medium weight with quite a charge of tannins.' In a nutshell? Cough up.
The artwork
The restaurant takes its name from Gavroche, a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, whose name translates as The Urchin. A sentimental painting depicting the boy which once hung behind the bar which poured countless martinis is estimated to be sold for between £10,000 and £15,000. Having the West End soundtrack stuck in your head every day for the rest of your life? Priceless.
