Steven Walker, the chairman of Gino D’Acampo’s restaurant business, says the deal is part of the group’s strategy to focus on central London and major UK cities, pointing to planned launches in Leeds and Manchester later this year.
Walker and San Carlo managing director Marcello Distefano look set to work together again, describing the move as ‘the start of a collaboration’ and that they were ‘eyeing further opportunities together in the UK and oversees’.
The site will trade up to 14 February before closing for around five weeks and reopening under San Carlo Group's original San Carlo brand following a 'minor' refurb (a more comprehensive refurb is planned further down the line). The staff have been retained.
Not to be confused with Marco Pierre White’s three-strong Luciano’s restaurant brand - which like D’Acampo’s is named after his son - Luciano made its debut in the summer of 2021 at The Strand's ME London hotel.
The celebrity chef’s follow up in Alderley Edge has traded for just over a year having launched at the very end of 2021.
“I wish Marcello and his father Carlo the very best of success for the future and could not think of a better home for this fabulous location,” Walker says.
Distefano added: “We are delighted to acquire such a prominent location in our heartland the North West and look forward to welcoming it into our Italian family.”
San Carlo Group - which now operates a total of 32 sites in the UK and oversees - looks set for a busy 2023, with three international openings planned for the first half of the year as well as the reopening of San Carlo Liverpool following a £3.5m overhaul.
