JAMIE’S PROMISE

Kiwi restaurant will happen

Jamie Oliver says the failed attempt to open his Wellington restaurant earlier this year ‘‘might be the best thing that ever happened’’.

The popular British chef said he has had a New Zealand eatery on his radar for about five years.

A site was picked for the Italian restaurant - the ground floor and basement of the newly refurbished Public Trust Building on Lambton Quay in the capital’s CBD, owned by property developer and engineer Maurice Clark.

However, , it was confirmed in June that Keystone Hospitality Group, the Australian operator of Jamie’s Italian restaurants, had abandoned the plan and was placed in receivership.

‘‘We had some problems with the site and then my partners in Australia ... were part of a bigger group that went into liquidation,’’ Oliver said.

‘‘So, although the Jamie Oliver group as a business is in brilliant shape and beautifully managed and superbly run and profitable, we were part of another organisation that were at risk.’’

But Oliver, who was last in New Zealand about ‘‘five or six years ago’’, sees the silver lining.

‘‘That’s potentially bad news, but for me it might be the best thing that ever happened,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re trying to buy it [the Jamie’s Italian franchise] back ourselves, so it’s run by myself, which is our intention.

‘‘With that in mind, one of the first priorities will be New Zealand again because we really want to be there.

‘‘I love Wellington, it’s one of my favourite places.

‘‘It will happen, whether someone else buys it, which is not my preferred choice, or whether we get it - which I should find out in the next two weeks - New Zealand will be very much back on the radar and we’re excited to make it happen.’’

Oliver, who has fond memories of Hawke’s Bay during his last visit, is keen to return to New Zealand.

‘‘I am due to get back, but the problem is I kept having babies and it’s quite a long way away,’’ said the father of five, including the most recent arrival, 9-week-old River Rocket.

‘‘I am pretty sure that I’ve stopped now ... and that means technically I can get over very, very soon.

‘‘We’re gonna pull our finger out.’’

Jamie Oliver in the kitchen with his wife, Jools. They have just had baby No 5, a boy named River Rocket.

The Public Trust Building on Lambton Quay was the proposed site for Jamie’s Italian restaurant.