ITALIAN restaurant group San Carlo are to launch a sixth restaurant in Manchester, after snapping up the site formerly occupied by struggling French/British restaurant, 47 King Street West.
We look forward to unveiling our plans
Group chairman Carlo Distefano – who launched the first Manchester San Carlo restaurant on King Street West in 2004 – said of the acquisition:
“We’re delighted to have acquired this site, it’s a great addition to the group and we look forward to unveiling our plans for this prime location in the near future.”
Carlo - who moved to England from Sicily as a 17-year-old - began his time in Manchester working as a barber in Kendals (now home to his Cicchetti restaurant), before opening Coco's Italian on Fountain Street in the eighties.
The family-owned group now operates seventeen restaurants across the UK, including five in Manchester: San Carlo and Cicchetti on King Street West; Fumo at 1 St Peter’s Square; and Gran Café and Bottega within Selfridges on Exchange Square.
Last year the Distefano’s signed a franchise agreement to spread the brand to the Middle East with a new San Carlo Cicchetti in Qatar. The group also operates a restaurant in Bangkok.
Earlier this year the group announced plans to open new sites in Liverpool, Leeds, London and Birmingham after turnover hit £45m.
Carlo Distefano (centre) with sons, Director Allesandro (left) and Managing Director Marcello (right)
47 King Street West sits opposite San Carlo's flagship restaurantFormer owner of 47 King Street West, Mike Hymanson, said:
“We wish San Carlo well in this new and exciting venture. As a family business we have enjoyed an incredible five years made possible by our fantastic staff and so many customers who have become and will remain friends.”
47 King Street West hit national headlines last year when an online complaint was met with a vitriolic response from the restaurant, branding the dining party 'the chaviest worst most vile people ever to grace our restaurant'.
Despite dismissing the staff member responsible, the restaurant never seemed to recover.
San Carlo have expressed their intention to retain the restaurant's current staff.
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