Jamie Oliver has revealed plans to bring back his Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain to the UK next year, marking a return six years after its dramatic collapse.
The celebrity chef has struck a partnership agreement with Brava Hospitality Group, the Cain International-backed company that operates the Prezzo chain.
Under the new deal, the first location is set to open in Irving Street, Leicester Square, during spring 2026.
Oliver originally launched Jamie’s Italian alongside his Italian mentor, chef Gennaro Contaldo, when they opened the inaugural branch in Oxford back in 2008.
At its peak, the restaurant chain boasted approximately 40 locations across Britain, with customers regularly queuing around the block to secure a table.
However, the brand began experiencing difficulties and started shutting venues in 2017 as part of restructuring efforts.
By May 2019, the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group entered administration, resulting in roughly 1,000 redundancies.
The brand began experiencing difficulties and started shutting venues in 2017
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In correspondence to employees at the time, Mr Oliver attributed the failure to “the well-publicised struggles of the casual dining sector and decline of the UK high street, along with soaring business rates”.
International branches operated by franchise partners remained unaffected by the UK operation’s demise.
Brava Hospitality Group chief executive James Brown, who previously led BrewDog’s bars division before taking his current role last November, initiated the collaboration after being a longtime admirer of the brand.
The brand has signed a partnership deal with Brava Hospitality Group, which operates the Prezzo Italian chain
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PA“It started off with a conversation about just meeting up with Jamie and talking about what we’re doing and what we’re passionate about and about hospitality,” he explained.
Mr Brown added: “This brand has always stood for more than great food, it’s about community, people, and purpose. That’s why this next chapter feels so meaningful.”
Ed Loftus, global director of Jamie Oliver Restaurants, described the partnership as bringing 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”.
The revamped restaurant will offer beloved classics such as cured meat planks, prawn linguine and Gennaro’s bolognese
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GETTYMr Loftus emphasised that the team has focused on reintroducing the brand “in a way that feels modern and focused, a tighter menu, a renewed emphasis on fresh pasta and quality ingredients, and warm, straightforward hospitality”.
The revamped restaurant will blend nostalgia with contemporary touches, featuring beloved classics such as cured meat planks, prawn linguine and Gennaro’s bolognese alongside new creations.
Despite the 2019 UK collapse, Oliver has maintained a substantial global presence, with approximately 70 restaurants operating worldwide through franchise arrangements.
By late 2023, the international portfolio comprised 30 Jamie’s Italian sites trading across 15 countries.