TV chef Gino D'Acampo is to branch into Cheshire for the first time - by swooping on the prime Piccolino site in Alderley Edge.
As the MEN reported on Thursday, Piccolino bosses have confirmed they're pulling out of the London Road restaurant from Tuesday, January 4.
But it will be a VERY swift transformation to become Luciano - the new "premium" Italian restaurant brand that Gino launched in London earlier in the summer.
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The restaurant, named after Gino's eldest son Luciano, has already set up its own Instagram page "Luciano Alderley Edge".
A link on the biography takes you to a landing page which says: "Luciano Alderley Edge coming to Alderley Edge on the 4th January 2022."
And on Friday it was updated with a statement from Gino to say: "Gino D'Acampo is bringing upmarket Italian dining to the heart of Cheshire."
It lists the location as the site of the current Piccolino, and is using the same phone number for reservations.
Speaking on the impending opening, Gino said: "I have many friends in Alderley Edge and the surrounding areas, it's an amazing place and one in which I'm super excited to open.
"The location on London Road couldn't be any better, it's a fantastic property.
"I'm looking forward to spending time here with my amazing team and incredible, loyal guests."
Major investment in the iconic London Road property will see Luciano expand into the former premises of neighbouring Chinese restaurant Yu on the upper floor to create a new event and private dining spaces in Cheshire, which will launch in the spring.
All existing bookings at the London Road restaurant will be honoured with guests contacted with news of the takeover in the coming days.
The new opening sees all positions protected and 15 new jobs created.
This Morning chef Gino already has a strong presence in Manchester, where he has his "Gino - My restaurant" venue at the Corn Exchange and Pizza and Prosecco restaurant directly opposite inside the Next at Manchester Arndale.
Those restaurants are run under the Individual Restaurants umbrella that owns Piccolino, but the MEN understands the new Luciano venue is run by a separate consortium.
Gino has three children with wife Jessica, oldest son Luciano, 19, Rocco, 15, and daughter Mia, 8.
The new Luciano will be open to guests from January 4, while a formal launch hosted by Gino himself is being planned for January 24.
The Piccolino site is known as a celebhaunt given the huge number of footballers, celebrities and millionaires based in Alderley Edge - and now it can add celebrity chef to the mix with the arrival of Gino to launch his Luciano restaurant.
Managing Director of Luciano by Gino D’Acampo, Mat Cunningham, added: “We’re looking forward to bringing Luciano to Alderley Edge.
"Gino’s influence in the kitchen is significant, not just in terms of the sourcing of ingredients and creation of dishes, but the impact he has on chefs who love to work with him and aspire to his talent and attention to detail. He’s incredibly hands-on.”
The owners of Piccolino announced on Thursday that they would be pulling out of Alderley Edge, as they urged fans of their Italian dining to head to their Hale, Knutsford or Bramhall sites for bookings instead.
The statement said: "Valued guests and followers: as of 4th January 2022, Piccolino in Alderley Edge, will no longer be part of the Individual Restaurant family and will cease trading as a Piccolino restaurant.
"We would love to welcome you to any one of our other restaurants across the UK with open arms.
"Your nearest Piccolino restaurants are Piccolino Bramhall, Piccolino Knutsford and Piccolino Hale, which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment and looks incredible.
"The teams look forward to giving you a very warm welcome, along with Giuseppe Esposito who has joined the team in Hale as General Manager."
Piccolino has been at the prominent site on London Road in Alderley Edge, well known in the area as the Brasingamen's club of old, for the past six years.
It expanded to the front with a huge all weather terrace with retracting roof which has long proved popular on sunny days and is known as a hotspot for celebrities and has been used as a filming location for the Real Housewives of Cheshire on ITVBe.
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