Cigar bar coming to the Wharf?

He has been looking at three different sites on the estate, and favours one venue, although is keeping this under wraps.

Mr Macdonald told The Wharf : "We love Canary Wharf. We've got to know it very well and we think what we've got is a one-stop shop for everyone there."

A deal may be completed as early as next week for the restaurant which will include a ventilated cigar club and large smoking terraces. It will cost about £1.75million to build.

As well as Canary Wharf, he has plans to expand to Washington DC, Havana, Mumbai and Tokyo.

He is confident Boisdale will be a strong product even during the recession.

He said: "The population of Canary Wharf may alter a bit in the short and medium term, but I think we are an egalitarian brand.

"We have good quality hamburgers to great steaks. In our restaurants, a hamburger can cost £8 and a three-course set menu £18. Yet you can buy wine for up to £10,000 a bottle."

- Meanwhile, photographic agency Getty opened a gallery space at Cabot Place East on Monday.

The site at the foot of One Canada Square is holding a exhibition on motor sports to coincide with the Motorexpo.

Following the motor exhibition, will be a two month show entitled London Through A Lens.

Editor of the exhibition Cath Phillips said: "Think of it as an idiosyncratic photo album, amassed by a very long-lived relative with wide-ranging tastes and a somewhat odd sense of humour."

Go to boisdale.co.uk for more information.