Worthing brothers take over Italian restaurant Casa Ciro

Sam and Jamie Haworth have taken over the helm of Casa Ciro in Worthing after former owners Ciro and Elizabeth De Silvo retired after 23 years running the business.

Read more: Owners of much-loved Italian restaurant retire after 23 years at its helm

The brothers, who are from Worthing, said their priority is to “earn the respect and trust” of the restaurant’s staff and customers.

They said they could not miss out on the opportunity to run the restaurant, which they have known for most of their lives.

Sam and Jamie Haworth (Image: Sam and Jamie Haworth)

Jamie worked in hospitality from a young age, starting as a kitchen porter at the Sylvan Oak in Findon.

He then went to university in London to study graphic design where he worked in hospitality throughout.

On leaving university he worked for restaurant chain Big Easy.

He worked his way up the ranks to become general manager of the company’s Chelsea location and then general manager of the Covent Garden site before becoming operations director of the business.

When he saw the Worthing restaurant up for sale he jumped at the chance.

“It was something me and Sam had discussed, and it was opportunity we couldn’t miss out on,” he said.

“I was always looking for a restaurant.”

Sam, who works as a finance director in London, said they had always had links to the restaurant.

Sam even had a first date there when he was younger.

“Ciro’s is a pillar of the community,” he said.

“I went in there on a first date, and I managed to get a table out on the terrace.

“I thought I was impressing the girl with getting the table outside, but it turned out to be really cold and windy.”

Sam said it meant a lot to them to receive the restaurant with Ciro’s blessing and have pledged to uphold the reputation of the “household name”.

Jamie Haworth with Casa Ciro's former owners Elizabeth and Ciro De Silvo (Image: Newsquest)

“We want to come in and steady the ship in terms of the transition,” he said.

“Ciro’s is literally a household name in Worthing, and I think just for the customers and staff and the community as a whole Ciro withdrawing from the business is going to be a thing that needs managing.

“We’re not here to come in and upset the apple cart.

“Our approach is slowly slowly.

“We want to earn the respect and trust of the staff and customers.

“I think once we’ve got that then maybe we can start to grow and gradually make our imprint on it and maybe redecorate, make some gradual changes.

“It’s always going to be Casa Ciro’s and it’s always going to be an Italian restaurant.

“It’s a tried and tested formula.

“We want to attract new people without isolating the existing customer base.

“It means a lot for Ciro to pass the restaurant on to us with his blessing.

“He’s put his trust in us and we want to uphold the reputation of the restaurant.”

Sam has promised customers the restaurant will still have “the same great service” as it has had under Ciro and said that none of the restaurant’s team has left.

“Trust in us, show us the same loyalty as you showed Ciro and we promise to provide the same great service that Ciro did,” he said.