Four years after the collapse of his chain, Jamie Oliver has announced he’ll be opening a new spot in Covent Garden
The UK loves a celebrity chef and there was a time when Jamie Oliver was a certified A-lister. He had his big break in 1997 as the fresh-faced sous chef in the River Café’s documentary and the appearance launched a long-lasting restaurant and TV career.
In May 2019 it was announced that his restaurant chain had entered administration and 22 sites were shuttered nationally. Not only was this a blow to Oliver’s portfolio, but his profile; at the time, he was criticised for having made it out with a £5.2 million paycheck while approximately 1000 employees lost their jobs. This wasn’t such a good look for a chef whose brand had involved being an ethical employer since 2002 when he opened non-profit restaurant Fifteen.
But even if his name is more synonymous with the fall of turkey twizzlers and a chain of overpriced Italian spots, it’s one you know. So, it’s still pretty big news when he announced he’ll be opening a new spot in London. While branches of Jamie’s Italian are still running their international sites (in Brazil, Cyprus, India and Portugal, among others), this marks his first move back into the UK restaurant industry in four years.
The new restaurant, Jamie Oliver Catherine Street, will open this autumn with a menu that reflects Oliver’s “love of Britain’s rich & diverse food culture” and spotlights independent suppliers and producers. The kitchen will be headed up by chef Chris Shail, who previously worked with Oliver for eight years, and he’ll be joined by pastry chef Emma Jackson, whose creds include Soho Farmhouse and Petersham Nurseries. At the moment that’s all we know on the food front (except that we can expect to see some of Oliver’s favourite dishes on the menu), so watch this space for more info as we get it.
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Put the kettle on!
Opens Tues 28th November 2023
6 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JY
@jamieolivercatherinestreet