Marco Pierre White's Frankie's Bar & Grill makes Irish debut

Marco Pierre White's Frankie's Bar & Grill restaurant chain is set to debut in Ireland after hospitality group Fitzers purchased the rights to operate the brand in the country.

Fitzers, which was established in 1980 and runs four restaurants around Dublin including the Hard Rock Café, is planning to invest £5m into the restaurant ahead of a planned opening next September.

Although the exact location has not been specified, Fitzers confirmed that the restaurant will seat up to 150 customers and will have a lunch and dinner menu.

Geraldine Fitzpatrick, director of Fitzers said: "We are delighted to be associated with Marco Pierre White, whose expertise will strengthen the Fitzers brand, giving us the competitive edge in our sector."

White, the first British chef to gain three Michelin stars, and jockey Frankie Dettori founded Frankie's Bar & Grill restaurant in London in 2004.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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