'Wacky' pizza plan for London

Marco Pierre White, the temperamental creative force behind some of London's most exclusive restaurants, is to open a "wacky" pizza chain with jockey Frankie Dettori.

Restaurant magazine said the 175-seat operation would open in mid-September. According to Dettori's aide it will be "mass market, serving very simple food, hopefully the best pizzas in town, fantastic pasta, fish, meat and grills in a slightly wacky environment".

Similar venues would open in London in the next six to eight months, then may spread beyond the capital.

They are a far cry from the fine French dining Pierre White made his name with at venues such as L'Escargot and Mirabelle in London.

Chez Max, which has been open less than two years, will close on Saturday.

Max Renzland and Jimmy Lahoud, co-owners alongside Pierre White, have sold their share. Renzland said he "wanted to be my own boss", adding: "I'm still good friends with Marco, we just decided to go our separate ways." He said Chez Max's basement location left it empty in the summer.

Renzland, who owns Petit Max in Battersea, still owns the name Chez Max and is looking to reopen. He said: "I'm mainly looking in the south-west London outskirts, locations like

Dettori already has a food products range - Frankie Dettori Italian Foods - which includes tomatoes grown in Puglia and stone-baked pizzas "just like mamma used to make".

However one newspaper review said of a product in the range: "Unlike its creator, it lacks character and is bland and unassuming."