PLANS TO REPLACE JAMIE’S ITALIAN WITHDRAWN:
PLANS to replace Jamie’s Italian in Cardiff with another Italian restaurant have been withdrawn hours after being made public.
A licensing application had been put in on behalf of the Harry’s brand for the now-empty site on The Hayes.
But it is now understood the application was withdrawn yesterday morning, with no reason given to Cardiff Council.
Named after private members club Harry’s Bar, the traditional and unfussy Italian eaterie serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as coffees and cocktails.
The once-popular Jamie’s Italian shut in May after the chain went into administration.
The site was later stripped out and is currently surrounded by hoarding while further work is carried out.
The application had been put in on behalf of Harry’s by Troia, the parent company of the world-famous venue The Ivy.
On Wednesday, Troia confirmed it had purchased a site at St David’s shopping centre.
Yesterday, the group would not comment on the news that the application had been withdrawn.
The Ivy Collection has already revealed plans to come to The Hayes just a few metres from Jamie’s Italian.
In May, it was revealed that The Ivy Collection is planning to open at the former Moss Bros store.
A licensing application appeared on the building eight months after the company shelved its original plans to come to the capital.
The restaurant revealed its interest in Cardiff in December 2017 but confirmed in September last year that this was no longer the case.
The Ivy Collection has venues in England, Scotland and Ireland and this would be its first venture into the Welsh dining scene.
It has recently opened in cities in the UK such as Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Manchester and York.
The menu features modern British dishes such as Ivy’s Shepherd’s Pie, fish and chips, roast-beef sandwiches, as well as brunch classics like eggs Benedict and pancakes.
The interiors of the brasseries are sophisticated and classically inspired by The Ivy’s unique style at its original West Street branch in London’s West End.