One of the longest running restaurants in Dublin city centre, Le Caprice, on St Andrew Street, has closed after 35 years and is to be replaced by the overseas restaurant group Nando’s. Le Caprice specialised in Italian-style cuisine and was particularly popular with late-night diners.

Nando’s paid key money of €135,000 for the lease of the ground floor and basement, which are rented at €90,000 per annum. Nando’s specialises in chicken dishes and already has outlets in shopping centres at Dundrum and The Pavilions in Dublin and Mahon Point in Cork. The restaurant group originated in South Africa and now trades in 30 countries. Lucy Connolly of Mason Owen Lyons handled the assignment of the lease.