My customers steal 30,000 napkins a month, says Jamie
RESTAURATEURS are no doubt happy to write off the odd sachet of sauce to pilfering diners.
But at Jamie Oliver’s establishments the losses are on more of an industrial scale.
The celebrity chef says 30,000 customised linen napkins go missing from his chain of Italian cafes every month.
His patrons even steal handles and flushers from the toilets.
‘I have noticed things in this recession. Like people nicking the linen napkins from our restaurants,’ he said.
‘We now lose about 30,000 a month. And there’s another thing: every restaurant of mine has the old-fashioned Thomas Crapper toilets because I’ve always thought they look wicked.
‘But they’re really expensive and we’ve had to have the handles and flushers welded on because people were unscrewing them and nicking them.
‘Honestly, some people were coming out for a meal and going home with half a toilet. Bonkers.’
Customers who want the blue and white napkins can buy a pack of four – embroidered with the words Jamie’s Italian – for £8. Apparently stolen packs can be bought on eBay for £7.49.
Diners have boasted on Twitter of stealing the napkins, even posting photos of their ill-gotten wares. One said: ‘Yeah, I stole a napkin from Jamie Oliver’s restaurant the other day. Rebel.’
Another replied: ‘Yup ... We have a Jamie’s Italian napkin too. Seems like everyone likes a souvenir.’
Yesterday, Mr Oliver’s spokesman said the chef had got the 30,000 figure wrong in his Radio Times interview.
He said: ‘Although we do lose a fair few napkins, it is not near that number. People mostly want them as souvenirs.
‘There is not much we can do about people selling them on eBay.’
Since its launch in 2008, Jamie’s Italian has grown to 30 branches. It offers uncomplicated food in rustic surroundings.