Jamie's Italian to Relaunch in UK with New Central London Site
Jamie's Italian is set to relaunch in the UK next year, six years after entering administration. The first new site will open in central London, in Leicester Square, operated under a franchise agreement with Brava Hospitality Group, investors in the Prezzo chain. At its peak, Jamie's Italian had more than 40 UK locations but collapsed in 2019, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 jobs. Despite this, more than 30 international Jamie's Italian restaurants have continued to operate.
Jamie Oliver will oversee the new menu at the Leicester Square site. The restart has been described as both challenging and timely, aiming to bring excitement to the mid-market dining sector. The revival is happening through a franchise agreement with Brava Hospitality Group, with Oliver not investing his own funds in the venture.
Following the collapse in 2019, Oliver's business debts amounted to about £80 million, though his other business interests remain healthy. His cookbooks continue to reach wide audiences, and his television series are broadcast in 189 territories worldwide.
The relaunch takes place amid a difficult UK hospitality environment, facing cost pressures such as increased staffing costs and changes to business rates. Oliver attributed the 2019 collapse to the well-publicised struggles within the casual dining sector, the decline of the UK High Street, and rising business rates.
