Eataly prepares for UK debut as it confirms early 2021 opening

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Italian food hall chain Eataly has confirmed it will finally launch its long-awaited first UK location early next year.

The flagship site, first announced back in 2018, will open next to Liverpool Street station on Broadgate in the City of London.

Spread over two floors, the 40,000sq ft space will house three restaurants; a market with over 5,000 Italian products; a cookery school; and what is claimed to be the capital’s biggest Italian winery.

“London has been a key target in our global expansion plans for some time now and we’re happy to be bringing our vision and a love of high-quality food to the UK," Eataly CEO Nicola Farinetti told City A.M.

"Eataly is all about taking the Italian gastronomic culture abroad, making it accessible to all in a celebration of the craft, taste and traditions of Italian food and drink.

“Bringing people together is at the heart of what we do and this is even more important in the current climate.”

Farinetti opened the first Eataly in Torino, Italy, back in 2007 as an urban hub for local artisan food producers and chefs.

The business has since expanded to 42 sites across 15 countries.

In March last year, plans were unveiled for a £250m food and leisure attraction be built near Harrogate in North Yorkshire and be run by Eataly.

The site was originally due to open in 2022, although it is not known if this is still the case.