Marco Pierre White to open Bardolino in Swindon
Chef Marco Pierre White will be opening a third Bardolino next month following openings of the "ultra casual" chain in Bristol and Birmingham (pictured) last year.
The 80-cover restaurant will be on Wood Street in the former Old Bank restaurant and will feature a similar relaxed, Mediterranean design to the existing restaurants, with warm colours and washed woods.
The brand takes its name from the town of White's mother's birth, Bardolino, a lakeside town on Lake Garda in northern Italy. It will offer an all-day express menu of Italian food, coffees and Bellinis, particularly focusing on stone-baked pizza, homemade pasta and traditional desserts.
The restaurant will also offer a brunch menu available daily, which becomes bottomless at weekends, with unlimited Bellinis paired with any item from the brunch menu.
Bardolino will occupy the ground floor of the three-story building. Manni Madhani will operate Bardolino under licence from White's Black & White Hospitality business, and will also manage the Bank bars located on the first and second floors of the building.
Marco Pierre White said: "Bardolino represents affordable, friendly and casual dining with authentic recognisable Italian dishes. After months of planning for the opening, I'm very much looking forward to opening the doors and offering a real taste of Italy to Swindon diners."
Nick Taplin, CEO at Black & White Hospitality, added: "Marco and I have a great relationship with Manni and we're very much looking forward to working together on this venture. The high street has changed a lot in the past few years and the demand for casual dining has become increasingly popular. A trend we believe is here to stay.
"This concept is designed to offer a fresh alternative, where authentic, uncomplicated food served promptly is absolutely essential. The setting, although influenced by a rustic Italian village, will be vibrant and a little bit quirky with the décor reflecting both old and the new."
Marco Pierre White launches first of new ‘ultra casual' restaurants >>
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill set for new Crowne Plaza Plymouth >>
Marco Pierre White to open Steakhouse Bar & Grill in Jurys Inn Oxford >>
Videos from The Caterer archives