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Jamie to open low-price pukka pasta joint

5:11pm Monday 8th October 2007

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TV chef Jamie Oliver is launching a chain of bargain Italian eateries with a "pukka" pasta restaurant in Brighton.

The diner, due to open next year, will offer dishes from £5 to £8.

Jamie, 32 - who has pumped £500,000 into the £7.5million venture - said: "It has always been a desire of mine to really tackle the issue of the quality of high street dining."

The restaurant is likely to bring in thousands of pounds, boosting tourism and trade in Brighton and Hove.

Jamie's Italian will open in Black Lion Street next July in an old office block which was occupied by Lloyd's TSB up until September.

The restaurant will be the centrepiece of a huge redevelopment project which aims to restore the down-at-heel thoroughfare to its 18th Century heyday as one of Brighton's most fashionable streets.

Jamie said: "There are some little places, privately owned by dedicated people, who are doing a good job but they are few and far between and I don't think many of the chains really give consistent quality at a decent price. We aim to change all that.

"When people eat at a Jamie's Italian, I want them to really get into the food, maybe try something they wouldn't normally try, but always be safe in the knowledge that they're eating good stuff, prepared with love.

"My mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, has been helping with the menu and the staff training and so it'll all be completely authentic, rustic Italian."

The plans by Karis Developments include the redevelopment of Moore House, transforming the front if the building and the Sixties office block, and the restoration of 8 Black Lion Street, one of the few remaining Old Town buildings.

The scheme will create more than 24,000sq ft of contemporary office space over four floors, each floor with its own roof terrace and secure basement parking for 31 cars.

Pedestrian access and safety will be improved and public artwork is planned to enhance the environment.

Brian Oxley, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "It is a great tribute to the vibrancy of the city that someone like Jamie Oliver feels that he wants to open up a restaurant here.

"I am sure people will be very keen and interested to visit it and sample the delights on offer.

"It will be good for the economy and it puts Brighton and Hove on the map. It shows he has a lot of confidence in the city going forwards to invest in it and to put his name to it.

"Something like that is not a minor commitment. We look forward to welcoming him."

Josh Argiros, Karis Developments managing director said: "We are delighted to confirm that Jamie Oliver will be opening a Jamie's Italian in Black Lion Street.

"This is a real coup for Brighton. Jamie's relaxed style and fabulous food is the perfect match for the city and will undoubtedly boost our reputation as one of the best places in the UK to eat."

Two years ago Mr Oliver hit the headlines after he badgered the government to improve the quality of school dinners.

His lastest venture will provide fast, urban casual dining, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

Pasta dishes will start at £5 and will be made in the restaurant with high quality ingredients. Bread will be baked daily by artisan bakers and all the chicken will be free-range.

This is the first time the chef will have owned a restaurant of his own. He does not own the restaurant chain Fifteen which he founded in 2002.

It is owned by the Fifteen Foundation charity, he is a trustee and remains actively involved in guiding the restaurants and the young people as well as donating funds, most recently from his book, Cook with Jamie.

Jamie's Italian will work in partnership with Fifteen but while Fifteen has the training of disadvantaged young people and the highest quality food at its central core, Jamie's Italian has a different ambition - to help more people to eat out better.

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
6:24pm Mon 8 Oct 07

How odd that Council Leader Brian Oxley should be speaking in support of something run by Karis, the crew behind the unpopular King Alfred proposal.

No doubt we shall soon be hearing that Brad Pitt is keen to eat at this franchised restaurant.

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B G Gruff, Hove says...
6:40pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Is there any reason to put the word 'pukka' in this article? is it just to avoid confusion with any other jamie olivers opening restaurants. does he still say pukka? i would hope like toploader he has left that part of his life behind him

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Paul, Brighton says...
7:21pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Oh dear, the nasty mockney cockney is coming to Brighton, to open a "chain" Pasta Restaurant.

We really don't need people like him down here in my opinion, no doubt more of his posh London friends will pop down.

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Mr.Meaner, Foody Heaven says...
7:36pm Mon 8 Oct 07

He may bring down some London top-totty that I would like to eat out with.

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Oliver, Worthing says...
7:41pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Right, italian food priced between £5-£8... that's actually not cheap at all. Most of the italian restaurants (which you can already find in abundance in Brighton) do lunchtime pizza/pasta for about £4!!!

Geez do some research boyo :oS

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Iain, Hanover says...
7:46pm Mon 8 Oct 07

It seem like tall Poppy syndrome to me. Brighton is big enough to have all sorts of people. It gets quiet boring just hearing people slagging off continually, its all so tabloid.

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Mr. Meaner, Arousal says...
7:59pm Mon 8 Oct 07

At least he can afford to wear Jools round his neck. Sorry, meant jewels.

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Dave, Woolwich says...
8:29pm Mon 8 Oct 07

I used to work in Moore House. That is all.

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Otto Von Klinkerhoffen, Germany says...
8:36pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Jamie Oliver Needs A Slap........

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mark, brighton says...
8:49pm Mon 8 Oct 07

can someone tell me how the a naff pasta chain is going to put brighton on the map? thought tuc tucs did that? or was it the incredible shops in the marina? god this paper swallows and old s--t.... so tell us argus when is falmer going to get started? or does that require reporters to get out and chase a story.

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carluccio, near hotel by library says...
8:49pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Oliver wrote:
Right, italian food priced between £5-£8... that's actually not cheap at all. Most of the italian restaurants (which you can already find in abundance in Brighton) do lunchtime pizza/pasta for about £4!!! Geez do some research boyo :oS
Absolutely. It might be cheap for Dosh Arghiros and Mr Oliver but most of us aren't given free meals by Brighton Council eg the Les Hamilton Towers. Hove and Brighton have a large number of Italian restaurants already serving pasta at this pricelevel. Basically we are getting one of the first new Jamie chain restaurants to compete against the local restauranteurs.

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Mike, hove says...
9:10pm Mon 8 Oct 07

I've done the same research as J.O. would have done and found that none of the usual suspects in Brighton or Hove have a clue as to how real Italian pasta or pasta sauce or pizza bases or pizza topping or their side dishes should be cooked or served, using fresh quality ingredients. The boy is badly needed and he will do well.

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oli, brighton says...
9:21pm Mon 8 Oct 07

" the restaurant will bring in thousands of pounds" umm yes it would or people would not invest 7.5 million in a phoney italian, it will be same as zizys or ask, blah blah same as ever, overpriced , served by a polish woman who cant understand a word you say, complete rubbish by this paper and council

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Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
10:29pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Mike, you have obviously not eaten at Topolino Duo. Very authentic, very nice and reasonably priced.

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Mike, hove says...
11:28pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Paul wrote:
Mike, you have obviously not eaten at Topolino Duo. Very authentic, very nice and reasonably priced.
I should have said that Carluccio's knows what it is doing - but not the rest. Nor do they even care. For example, most Brighton "Italian eateries" will happily give you Danish processed mozarella as a starter - as if it was ever meant as anything other than a dirt cheap pizza topping. If you protest, they just say that "nobody else has complained", as if that makes food fraud OK.

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Tony, Australia says...
1:20am Tue 9 Oct 07

I am originally from Brighton and have been lucky enough to visit and eat in many countries in the world. The opening of a Jamie Oliver restaurant willprobably be a good thing for Brighton, not only will it give Brighton a restaurant with decent food (in 2005 struggled to find a restaurant that served quality food)but will highlight Brighton if it gets a run on one of the world wide lifestyle programs

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Disgusted, Eastbourne says...
1:25am Tue 9 Oct 07

I thought pukka made pies.....

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TJW, Brighton says...
9:05am Tue 9 Oct 07

Just what Brighton neess. Another pasta restaurant!!!!

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JP, Sussex says...
9:36am Tue 9 Oct 07

Not just another pasta restaurant TJW but another cheap chain pasta restaurant... they have really spotted a gap in the market there!!

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Dave, Shoreham says...
10:00am Tue 9 Oct 07

Dave wrote:
I used to work in Moore House. That is all.
I knew someone who worked there. But he left for London to be a big city mockney. That is all.

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JW, Hove says...
11:35am Tue 9 Oct 07

Surely there is a gap in the market for properly cooked pasta as opposed to the rubbish offered by most so-called Italian restaurants here. Authentic Carbonara sauce for example should contain simple ingredients - free range egg yolk, cream, pancetta and FRESH parmesan but I've never experienced it cooked like that anywhere in Brighton or Hove - has anyone suffered the appalling version of this dish at Alfresco on the seafront - complete with rude waiters and cardboard dried parmesan? Good pasta is not difficult to do - simply requires good ingredients - if he can pull that off then good luck to him!

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Dave, Woodingdean says...
1:59pm Tue 9 Oct 07

Shoreham and Woolwich Daves.
I used to work in Burgess Hill. Do I now win some kind of prize? Pwukka!

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Stroller, Hove says...
2:10pm Tue 9 Oct 07

The Argus has still not corrected the misprint in the headline. "Pukka" should of course be "Puke".

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nick, Brighton says...
3:43pm Tue 9 Oct 07

Why does everybody who uses these comments sections have to pour scorn over everything? The development of this area is long over due...and people are doing it! Don't like Italian? Don't go!

Perhaps some of you lot should put your money where your mouth is and redevelop a piece of it? No?

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I Feel Sick, Pizza To Go says...
4:13pm Tue 9 Oct 07

I believe that the word "Pukka" actuallt is pronounce "Puke Err" which is what I'll do if I ever have the misfortune to meet that Oliver Tw@t

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nick, Brighton says...
4:49pm Tue 9 Oct 07

I Feel Sick wrote:
I believe that the word "Pukka" actuallt is pronounce "Puke Err" which is what I'll do if I ever have the misfortune to meet that Oliver Tw@t
That's funny. Jealousy perhaps?

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bongo, shoreham says...
5:11pm Tue 9 Oct 07

have lloydstsb xferred moore house employees to mumbai or just quietly made them all unemployed?

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Andi, says...
5:34pm Tue 9 Oct 07

I see the usual Victor Meldrews are out in force again today!

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Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
5:43pm Tue 9 Oct 07

"Perhaps some of you lot should put your money where your mouth is and redevelop a piece of it? "

How does anybody redevelop a piece of the mouth?

What is nick on about?

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Ralph Hoberman, Kemp Town says...
6:45pm Tue 9 Oct 07

I heard it reported this firm hasn't got a bean - or an olive - and so how is it funding this restaurant?

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yvonne, brighton says...
10:44pm Tue 9 Oct 07

At last we may have decent Italian food rather then the rubbish that most restaurants serve up in this town.Having eaten at most of them, I'd rather not mention the names of, let a London boy show them how its done. Good on yer Jamie.

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mark, brighton says...
10:58pm Tue 9 Oct 07

yvonne wrote:
At last we may have decent Italian food rather then the rubbish that most restaurants serve up in this town.Having eaten at most of them, I'd rather not mention the names of, let a London boy show them how its done. Good on yer Jamie.
lets see how good it will be, one thing to remember he is a cockney so to say its going to be good italian food is based on what? he certainly wont be cooking it , or overseeing it on a day to day basis.

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Dave, Woolwich says...
2:07pm Wed 10 Oct 07

I like pasta.

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Dave, Woodingdean says...
3:22pm Wed 10 Oct 07

I like pasta, but not fat tongued mockney wideboys who have made millions whoring themselves to Sainsburys. though to be fair, before the fame went to his head, his recipes were quite good.

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Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
7:07pm Wed 10 Oct 07

yvonne wrote:
At last we may have decent Italian food rather then the rubbish that most restaurants serve up in this town.Having eaten at most of them, I'd rather not mention the names of, let a London boy show them how its done. Good on yer Jamie.
London boy as in Clavering, Essex?

What makes you think he will do a better job than the ITALIANS that currently run ITALIAN restaurants?

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JW, Hove says...
12:52am Thu 11 Oct 07

Because those ITALIANS are cynically producing cut price food with cut price ingredients

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Mike, hove says...
6:38pm Sun 14 Oct 07

Your 100% right JW. I suspect that some of those that are knocking Jamie O. here must have an interest in running the rubbish Italian "restaurants" that we have here in Brighton. Of course they must know better - but as the customers don't complain much, they just go on cutting corners and taking the mickey.

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J.D, Brighton says...
8:58am Thu 19 Jun 08

I am glad a good quality chef is going to be opening a restaurant in Brighton but why oh why a cheap Italian Reastaurant???

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wizzee, shoreham says...
12:32pm Thu 29 Jan 09

There is one big thing that will make this different from other Italian restaurants and that is authentic Rustic italian food. I have spent a long time in Italy and the typical food you eat day to day is nothing like the food served by the other restaurants in brighton, all the dishs are made to live up to the way the english think the dish should be. as mentioned before the typical carbonara in the other restaurants will use cream!!!
I also happen to know the head chef that will be running this restaurant and he is very much italian so all the comments about jamie not being italian is ridiculous as everyone knows he wony be in the restaurant cooking.

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Black Lion Street where the new restaurant will be sited Black Lion Street where the new restaurant will be sited

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