British chef's HK restaurants to close

Jamie's Italian, associated with British chef Jamie Oliver, says it is closing its restaurants in Causeway Bay and Harbour City.

It says “all good things must come to an end.''

The company says it "made the difficult decision to close this month across Taiwan and Hong Kong - tomorrow for Hong Kong, and today for Taiwan.''

Jamie Oliver's restaurant empire collapsed in May last year and appointed KMPG as administrators. It closed 25 restaurants in the UK. The group launched in 2008, and operated 22 Jamie’s Italian restaurants as well as Fifteen London, Barbecoa, and Jamie Oliver’s Diner at Gatwick Airport. About 1,000 staff were laid off.

Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, and its subsidiaries Jamie’s Italian Limited, Jamie’s Italian Holdings, One New Change Limited and Fifteen Restaurant Limited, were placed in the hands of adminitators in May, 2019.

At the time, international restaurants trading as Jamie’s Italian, were not affected.

In January this year, the Financial Times reported that Oliver's creditors were  to lose most of the £80 million they are owed after its collapse, according to administrator KPMG. 

The chain had reported a £31.1 million loss before tax in 2017. 

Oliver bought his business out of administration for £500,000. In November, he launched a new brand — Jamie Oliver’s Kitchen — with the first sites opening in Bangkok and Bali, The FT said. Oliver’s restaurant group operates 70 restaurants outside the UK through franchise agreements.