The Villa Italian Bar Trattoria and Restaurant is located in the site of the old Fairfield Arms, attached to the Villa Group’s Villa Express hotel, which opened this year in what was formerly a Premier Inn site.
The Villa Italian will serve traditional Italian fare to guests from the hotel and other customers and has recently announced the addition of Italian head chef Stefano La Camera, formerly of Manchester restaurant San Carlo, to its team.
Owner of the Villa Group Simon Rigby said: “Kirkham and the surrounding towns have needed a restaurant like this and with the addition of Stefano to the team, locals will be returning to The Villa Italian again and again.”
Food and drink offering
The Villa Italian restaurant will be open seven days a week and will be serving lunch and the evening meal, alongside bar snacks. La Camera aims to put together a menu full of authentic Italian cuisine which is ‘simple but tasty’ and includes classic dishes such as lobster and calf liver alongside pizza and pasta. It will also feature a number of the head chef’s signature dishes such as Risotto Amalfi, Flamed Veal Chop and Lamb Cutlets.
La Camera said: “I am ready to get in that kitchen and show the local people what real Italian food is, we are in a great location and the when the renovation is complete the restaurant will be in it a league of its own. I am looking forwards to summer for guests to try out our new menu, the food will be magnificent."
Operations manager at The Villa Italian Emdad Hussain said: “We are ecstatic to welcome Stefano to the team, to have such a top chef joining the restaurant was absolute priority to us and we are confident that Stefano’s experience will bring a new lease of life to the former dining establishment. Stefano is recognised for his culinary excellence and passion for Italian food, the team are very excited. He is currently busy putting a team of Italian chefs together to bring customers the finest authentic Italian food.”
The Villa Italian will also house a separate informal coffee shop within the restaurant called Leaf or Bean, which has indoor and terraced seating and also offers a takeaway option and WiFi for customers.