BBC star chef who suddenly closed restaurant after 9 months makes huge new move in bid for Michelin star

A BBC chef who announced a shock restaurant closure after nine months has made a huge move in a bid for a Michelin star.

The celebrity chef is in the process of buying a restaurant and transforming into a fancy Italian eatery.

Italian Restauranter Giancarlo Caldesi has snapped up a restaurant in the Berkshire village of Bray.

The picturesque suburban village is already home to two of Britain’s three-Michelin-starred restaurants and Caldesi is thrilled to be heading into “the lion’s den.”

Caldesi said: “It will be the biggest challenge of my career but it is also an opportunity of a lifetime.

“There’s nothing better than to go straight into the lion’s den.

“I just want to be there and show that Italians can be equally good.”

Bray currently hosts two renown restaurants – Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and Alain Roux’s Waterside Inn, which boast six stars between them.

The star of BBC Two’s Return to Tuscany is planning on turning the venue into a fine-dining Italian eatery.

Bray’s Slice restaurant, which Caldesi now owns, is still unnamed but plans are in the works to get diners in by September.

This follows the closure of his London-based Italian restaurant Caldesi Belsize just nine months after it opened.

He refurbished the former site by injecting a £400,000 investment into the venue but unfortunately, its closure was announced this year.

A post on Caldesi Belsize’s Instagram account read: “We have officially closed our doors at Caldesi in Belsize and are deeply grateful for the support and cherished moments shared with our guests.

“The Caldesi legacy of bringing authentic Italian cuisine to your table lives on at Caldesi Marylebone and Caldesi in Campagna.”

His remaining three outlets are all running as usual and loyal fans are gearing up for a fourth one to open.

The TV chef already owns a restaurant in Bray named Caldesi In Campagna but it’s thought this new site is to be a fresh bid for a Michelin star.

Near the already-standing venue is La Cucina Caldesi Cookery School which provides fresh pasta courses both in person and via Zoom.

For customers located in the capital, Caldesi Marylebone also has a curated Italian menu in London.

Caldesi Marylebone is branded as “a Little Corner of Italy in Marylebone” according to the website and Caldesi in Campagna offers “regional Italian cookery from head chef Gregorio Piazza.”

If you’re looking for a Caldesi treat at home, the TV star chef has released a range of recipes on the BBC website.

He was seen on the big screen in a documentary series following him and his wife food writer Katie Caldesi they worked on their cookery school business in Tuscany.

They later leased a book of the same name, Return to Tuscany, which includes a range of food photography and stunning location shots.

WHY ARE RESTAURANT CLOSING

The hospitality industry is facing mounting pressures, including soaring bills, rising costs, and squeezed budgets.

More closures could be on the horizon due to upcoming hikes in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage.

Many food and drink businesses have faced significant challenges recently, as the rising cost of living has led to a decline in dining out.

After struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic, many establishments were then hit with soaring energy bills and mounting inflationary pressures.

This has forced several well-known chains to shut locations, with big brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s among those affected.