Gino D'Acampo launching new restaurant brand

Created in partnership with Individual Restaurants and Piccolino owner Steven Walker, the brand will debut later this year at Euston station, followed by a 250-cover site at Manchester Corn Exchange.

Focusing on affordable, Italian food, D’Acampo is planning to expand the My Restaurant concept to further UK sites and is eyeing international expansion.

It comes two years after the launch of the chef's Gino D’Acampo – My Pasta Bar concept, which currently operates three central London sites.

The chef said his move in to premium casual dining had been on the cards for years, hampered only by his busy television schedule.

D’Acampo said: “I have been approached many times over the years to open restaurants, but it was Steven’s passion for Italian cucina, his eye for detail and his insistence that he would only partner me if I was truly involved, that attracted me finally to take the plunge.

“I’m excited to be creating the new menus for the restaurants and I’m going to be including lots of favourites from my books and TV programmes.”

In addition to 22 Piccolino restaurants, Walker and his partners own and operate a range of sites across the country including The Restaurant Bar & Grill, Vintage Salt, Bank Restaurant & Bar and Q Grill.

D’Acampo also runs a successful Italian food import business working with artisan suppliers across Italy.