Jamie Oliver set to give Manchester a taste of his Italian with new restaurant

By Sarah Whalley

Celebrated TV chef Jamie Oliver is set bring his winning recipe to Manchester with the opening of a ‘Jamie’s Italian’ restaurant on King Street in February.

Oliver – famous for a number of campaigns to improve food standards in the UK and in America – is delighted to finally be opening the latest of his award-winning restaurant in the city.

The decision to bring ‘Jamie’s Italian’ to Manchester came after the search for the right home ended in finding a Grade II listed building, which will retain all of its original features.  

“I’ve wanted to open a ‘Jamie’s Italian’ in Manchester for years but we’ve never found the right location – until now,” said Oliver, who first rose to prominence with his stripped down ‘Naked Chef cooking shows. 

“The historic Manchester restaurant is really going to be a wonderful place to eat – one of the jewels of the ‘Jamie’s Italian’ collection - so now we just need the best local chefs and waiting staff to bring the whole thing together.” 

The restaurant’s menu is described as what ordinary people would be found eating over in Italy, with rustic and simple dishes, using the best ingredients and will bring 100 new jobs for people in the hospitality business.

The Grade II listed building which will house Jamie’s latest venture has been empty since 2008 and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1928 and was completed in 1935.

The news of the plans to open a ‘Jamie’s Italian’ has been welcomed by members of the City Council and the food industry in Manchester alike.  

Councillor Mark Clayton, part of Manchester’s Economy, Employment and Skills committee, said: “We will welcome this on the grounds that it will bring much needed employment to Manchester and hopefully Jamie's restaurant will gain a Michelin star, as there are no Michelin star restaurants in Manchester.”

Sam Elliott, a former chef at Rio Ferdinand’s Italian restaurant ‘Rosso’, said: “I think it’s good to have a named chef opening an establishment.

“It is going to bring a lot more interest in the Manchester food scene and add a new dimension to it. It should also give King Street an identity as a high-end district.

“Plus it’s good for employment, opening up the job market for chefs who want to develop their career under Jamie at a higher level establishment.”

‘Jamie’s Italian’ has received outstanding reviews from Britain’s top restaurant critics – renowned Times critic Giles Coren described ‘Jamie’s Italian’ as “streets ahead of any Italian chain I can think of anywhere in the world."

Sam dismissed fears over saturation of Italian restaurants in the area – with Rosso and other Italians within a short distance away – and feels that each restaurant in the area will benefit from an increased number of customers.

“It will bring business to that area as other establishments can bounce off the restaurant’s custom,” said Sam.

“There is potential for them to grow and flourish, but I don’t think they should have opened next to some of their nearest rivals.”

Prospective staff should contact ‘Jamie’s Italian’ Manchester through www.jamiesitalian.com