Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is set to launch a new restaurant in Dublin, in a continuing effort to build his international portfolio following the collapse of his UK restaurant empire.
The restaurant, called Chequer Lane by Jamie Oliver, will open on Dublin’s Exchequer Street in April of this year, and the concept will launch in partnership with Irish restaurateur Gerry Fitzpatrick, who currently oversees the chef’s Irish franchise arm.
Chequer Lane will be able to accommodate 100 covers and will serve a menu that champions the best of Irish produce. On the menu, you can expect to find dishes such as Irish beef cooked on a robata grill, rock oysters sourced from Carlingford Bay and sharing boards stocked up with local cheeses.
In May of last year, Oliver’s UK restaurant empire collapsed, resulting in the closure of most of his Jamie’s Italian sites, as well as his high-end restaurant brand Barbecoa. However, Oliver still operates a strong international portfolio, comprising of 74 sites across 27 markets with 21 franchise partners. Among that portfolio is one current Irish site, a branch of Jamie’s Italian that was launched in 2012 and is found in Dundrum, Dublin.
Jamie Oliver's Diner is part of the chef's international portfolio
Late last year, Oliver made the decision to rebrand two of his Jamie’s Italian sites in South East Asia to launch a new concept. The restaurants, in Bali and Bangkok respectively, have been rebranded as Jamie Oliver Kitchen, an all-day operation which serves dishes that are inspired by the local cuisine and specialities of the area.
At the same time, it was revealed that Oliver plans to open 19 more restaurants around the world before the end of 2020. Other concepts in the chef’s international portfolio include Jamie Oliver’s Deli, Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria and Jamie Oliver’s Diner.
In the UK, there are currently just three Jamie’s Italian concepts left, all of which can be found at Gatwick airport.
In other Jamie news, the chef has revealed a shocking photo of his family’s flooded restaurant.