Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has hit out at landlords as he quits the London restaurant scene.
Zilli has sold the leases of his two remaining restaurants, Zilli Fish and Zilli Café, both on Brewer Street, W1, to Bill’s Produce, the grocery and café concept backed by tycoon Richard Caring.
The Italian chef, 55, slammed “greedy” landlords, adding that rates are £90,000 pa and rents have doubled in the past five years. Rents for the two restaurants totalled £220,000 pa.
He also blamed the growth of chains such as Pret A Manger and Whole Foods in Soho for killing the “village atmosphere”.
Zilli has owned seven restaurants in London.
The chef continues to oversee his four restaurants at Center Parcs.
Davis Coffer Lyons acted for Bill’s Produce.
annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com
