Italian cuisine - Hospitality

Spaghetti House returns to profit

04-Jan-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Spaghetti House has reported financial results for the year to 26 March 2023, with turnover rising from the previous year’s £5.3m to £9.8m.

Gino D’Acampo’s restaurant at INNSiDE Manchester Hotel to undergo rebrand

22-Dec-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Gino D’Acampo’s First Street Bar & Kitchen restaurant at INNSiDE Manchester Hotel will change its name to Gino D’Acampo, Manchester early next year following a £800,000 refurbishment.

Victor Lugger: “There was way less interest in the business than I expected”

22-Nov-2023 By Stefan Chomka

Interest in Italian restaurant group Big Mamma fell short of expectations despite the company having a successful 10-year track record that has seen it open 23 restaurants in four countries, its co-founder has revealed.

Puglia-inspired café and wine bar Capilungo to launch in Covent Garden

15-Nov-2023 By Joe Lutrario

A café and wine bar inspired by the Puglian city of Lecce will launch in Covent Garden next month.

Purezza acquires plant-based cheesemonger La Fauxmagerie

13-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Brighton-based vegan pizza brand Purezza has acquired a majority stake in artisanal plant-based cheese manufacturer La Fauxmagerie.

Edinburgh pizzeria Matto to launch third site

10-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Edinburgh-based Neapolitan pizza brand Matto will launch its third and largest site later this month in the Scottish capital’s Newington neighbourhood on the southside of the city.

Dominic Ford: “We didn't want to buy any Italian restaurant, we wanted to buy this one”

10-Nov-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The duo behind Restaurants Inc. have partnered with David Gleave MW to become the new custodians of Chelsea stalwart Enoteca Turi and its legendary collection of Italian wine.

PizzaExpress to not make an offer for The Restaurant Group

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The owner of PizzaExpress has pulled out of the running for The Restaurant Group (TRG).

Various Eateries tees up plans to expand Noci concept

02-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Various Eateries says it expects its modern Italian pasta concept Noci to ‘become an increasingly core part of its growth strategy’ following successful openings in Shoreditch and Battersea.

Fraquelli brothers to open third Brasseria restaurant

01-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The London-based Brasseria Family group will launch a third restaurant in the capital early in the new year.

Latest opening: Paper Moon London

26-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

The Milanese restaurant has chosen The OWO in Whitehall for its debut restaurant on these shores.

Former P Franco chef Mitchell Damota to head up new Italian restaurant Dalla

25-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

A new neighbourhood Italian restaurant is coming to Hackney’s Morning Lane next month.

Latest opening: Daroco Soho

24-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

The Franco-Italian restaurant has swapped Paris’ 2nd and 16th arrondissements for Soho.

'The most significant stage of a magnificent European journey': Big Mamma Group is finally opening in Italy

24-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

French founded Italian restaurant group Big Mamma is making its first move into the country that has inspired its cuisine.

Dez Amore to open sixth London venue

20-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Street-food concepts Dez Amore and Kings342 are to open in Chelsea as part of the Sloane Stanley Estate.

The outsider: Jacob Kenedy on 15 years of Bocca di Lupo

09-Oct-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Soho restaurant has had a marked impact on London's dining scene over one and a half decades, but its chef-patron still considers himself to be faking it when it comes to Italian cuisine.

Italian brand Indegno to make UK debut in London's Shoreditch

05-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Fast-casual Italian brand Indegno will make its UK debut next month having secured a site on Brick Lane in London's Shoreditch.

Latest opening: San Carlo Alderley Edge

28-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Marcello Distefano-led group has invested a cool £3m into the site that was once home to Gino D’Acampo’s Luciano restaurant.

The Lowdown: Atavi pasta

22-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

One of the world’s most respected and influential chefs has put his name to an innovative new range of luxury pasta.

Gail's investor McWin acquires majority stake in Big Mamma

19-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

McWin, the private equity backer of high street bakery chain Gail's, has acquired a majority stake in French-owned Italian restaurant group Big Mamma.

Stuart Ralston: “Lyla could be my finest hour"

15-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

The Edinburgh-based chef discusses taking on the former site of the late Paul Kitching’s 21212 restaurant, and offering inspiration to younger chefs with his new cookbook.

Botanico to launch in Liverpool’s Woolton Village

13-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Father and son duo Donato and Antonio Cillo will open an all-day restaurant on the former Il Ristorante by Crust site in Liverpool’s Woolton Village next month.

Sheffield restaurateur Steve Zsirai to celebrate grappa with new venture in the city

01-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

South Yorkshire-based restaurateur Steve Zsirai will open an upmarket Italian restaurant in Sheffield city centre later this year.

Bar Lina to launch below Lina Stores’ Brewer Street Deli

29-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Delicatessen and now fast-expanding pasta chain Lina Stores will launch a bar below its original Soho store later this year.

Proove doubles up in Sheffield with fourth pizzeria

14-Aug-2023 By Restaurant

Pizzeria brand Proove is opening its second Sheffield restaurant this week.

Italian restaurant DAROCO to launch in Soho

19-Jul-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Paris-born Italian restaurant concept DAROCO will launch in London’s Soho this September.

Italian restaurant Bocconcino to open in Soho

13-Jul-2023 By Restaurant

Russian restaurateur Michael Gokhner is to open a second site of his high-end Italian restaurant Bocconcino, with a third planned for next year.

64 Old Compton Street to launch in Soho next week

29-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurateur Nima Safei will launch a follow up to his popular Soho restaurant 40 Dean Street next week.

Top end Italian Il Gattopardo to launch in Mayfair later this year

28-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The group behind restaurants including Zuma, Roka, Coya and Amazonico will launch a high-end Italian restaurant on Mayfair’s Albemarle Street later year.

How I Got Here: Antonio Alderuccio

28-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

The founder and chef patron at Plant Club in Newington Green, London, on his childhood love of restaurants, being paid a fair wage, and learning from a costly business decision.

San Carlo toasts turnover boost

27-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Turnover for Italian restaurant group San Carlo has risen by 137% to £68.9m, up from £29.1m the year before.

Napoli on the Road to launch second restaurant

19-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Neapolitan pizzeria Napoli on the Road will open a second site in London next month.

Latest opening: Cantinetta Antinori

16-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

An Italian restaurant linked to one of the world’s most famous wine companies has opened in London’s Knightsbridge.

San Carlo to move West End Cicchetti to a larger site

14-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

San Carlo is relocating its West End Cicchetti restaurant down the road in a move that will double its size.

Pizzeria group Zia Lucia eyes UK expansion

08-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

London-based pizzeria group Zia Lucia has announced plans to expand across the UK following its success in the capital.

Prezzo warns creditors it would ‘likely enter administration’ without restructuring plan

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has warned creditors that it would ‘likely enter into administration’ should its recently announced restructuring plan, which will see nearly a third of its estate closed, not be implemented.

How I Got Here: Andrea Fraquelli

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of the Brasseria Family group London and grandson of Spaghetti House co-founder Lorenzo Fraquelli on being a third-generation restaurateur, working with his brother, and his problems with VAT.

We Are Grace London opens first of three planned restaurants this year

21-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

Newly launched hospitality group We Are Grace London has made its debut with an Antipodean Italian restaurant located in London’s Belsize Park with two more venues to follow later in the year.

Francesco Mazzei to leave D&D London

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Chef Francesco Mazzei is to leave D&D London this month in order to spend more time travelling and focusing on his charity work.

Prezzo posts significant loss despite strong H2 performance

04-Apr-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Prezzo reports that it returned to profitability during the second half of its FY21/22 financial year, with revenues for the full year to 2 January 2022 of £94.9m.

Flash-grilled: Manuel Prota

31-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

The head chef at Big Mamma's latest London restaurant, Jacuzzi, on his first industry job, bringing his own twists to classic Italian dishes, and maintaining respect in the kitchen.

Tipo’s Stuart Ralston and Jade Johnston: “Restaurants like this are lacking in Edinburgh”

31-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Aizle chef patron Stuart Ralston's third Edinburgh restaurant is an Italian small plates place he's launching in partnership with his group operations director Jade Johnston.

Big Mamma to open 'intimate trattoria' Carlotta in Marylebone

07-Mar-2023 By Restaurant

Big Mamma has announced the opening of another restaurant in the capital, this time in Marylebone.

Restaurants turn to tomato-less pizza and pasta dishes as ingredient prices soar

27-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

White pizza and tomato-less pasta dishes could become a more prominent fixture on Italian restaurant menus in the UK as businesses grapple with both rising prices and ingredient shortages.