Jamie’s Italian brand returns to the UK

Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain is returning to the UK high street thanks to a partnership with Prezzo Italian owner, Brava Hospitality.

 

The deal is backed by Brava Hospitality’s majority shareholder, investment management firm Cain, led by Jonathan Goldstein.

 

The chef’s Jamie’s Italian chain reached 36 sites at its peak and more than 1,000 jobs were lost when it closed alongside his Barbecoa and Fifteen London restaurants in 2019 after racking up millions in losses.

 

Oliver has said it his failure to get the “basics” right led to the collapse of his UK restaurant business.

 

Jamie Oliver Restaurants announced the relaunch on LinkedIn today (5 December), revealing that the new site will be located in London’s Leicester Square.

 

“We feel a huge sense of pride and excitement bringing our most iconic, most loved brand back to its home in the UK,” the group stated.

 

“Last time round, we served over 45 million people in our UK restaurants. We are thrilled to be opening our doors once more in February 2026. Adding to our global portfolio of 26 Jamie’s Italian restaurants across 15 countries, it feels momentous to be bringing the brand home.”

 

The restaurant design will be revitalised, reflecting some of the successes from the international Jamie’s Italian restaurants.

 

The menu will see the return of dishes including anti-pasti planks and Gennaro’s Bolognese, with the group writing: “As ever, the brand will uphold exceptional sourcing standards, fresh on-site pasta-making, warm team culture, and delicious Italian food with Jamie’s signature flair.”

 

The post added: “As we’ve evolved over the last six years, the brand has grown up with us. It’s the Jamie’s Italian you know and love, but reimagined for the contemporary hospitality scene.”

 

Oliver himself said: “As a chef, having the chance to return to the high street is incredibly important to me. In theory it’s not the easiest time to return but conversely, I think it’s the perfect time. I believe the mid-market needs excitement, surprise and delight and that’s exactly what I am planning on delivering.

 

“I think the public wants freshly made delicious food at a reasonable price with an award winning kids menu. Eating out is a treat but I believe it should offer value for money with higher welfare sourcing.”

 

He said he will “drive the menus, make sure the sourcing is right, the staff training and ensure the look and feel of the restaurant is brought to life in the right way”, adding: “All the effort, time, love and attention will be the same as before.”

Ed Loftus, global director of Jamie Oliver Restaurants, said: “Partnering with Brava, backed by Cain International, marks an exciting next chapter for Jamie Oliver Restaurants in the UK. This partnership brings together one of the world’s most recognised chefs with a highly capable operator and the long-term investment to build something with real longevity.

“We’ve taken the time to reintroduce Jamie’s Italian in a way that feels modern and focused, a tighter menu, a renewed emphasis on fresh pasta and quality ingredients, and warm, straightforward hospitality. Our priority is making the first location exceptional; the public will ultimately determine how quickly and how far we grow.”

 

Brava Hospitality Group’s CEO James Brown added: “At Brava, our focus is to invest in brands where food, people and purpose come together. We’ve seen the magic of Jamie’s Italian around the world, and we believe deeply in the power of his brand. 

 

“Our ambition is to bring world-class Italian dining to the heart of the UK high street. A lot of time and energy has gone into evolving the Jamie’s Italian concept to make that vision a reality. This marks an exciting new chapter for both Jamie’s Italian and Brava, and reflects our commitment to reimagining the high street with exceptional, modern hospitality.”

 

Oliver returned to the London restaurant scene last year with the launch of a mid-market restaurant at Theatre Royal in Drury Lane.

 

His international restaurant business continues to expand and has over 70 sites across more than 20 different countries.