Celeb chef Jamie Oliver says restaurant collapse was ‘minor blip’

Jamie Oliver has said the collapse of his restaurant chain in 2019 was a “minor blip”.

The celebrity chef’s restaurant chain suffered 22 closures and about 1,000 job losses.

However, the 47-year-old - who is dad to five kids with his wife Jools - has revealed he is “better” for it and that he is ready “to go again”.

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Asked if had learned from the experience, Oliver said: “Yeah, for sure, and every other failure that I’ve had – which is about 50%. But I’ve never been more rounded, I’ve never been more experienced."

“It happens, and I would call it a minor blip really, in the vision and the dream," added the TV chef.

"A very painful one.”

“But definitely, I’m better for it,” said Oliver, who is now launching a new delivery-only pasta service.

“We had 13 amazing years and learned loads. I was a young man when I started, I’m much older and wiser now.”

The star also said he would “go back to restaurants again, as soon as I can”.

“It’s in my blood, it’s really all I know,” he said.

“It was never a size problem, it was rent and rates that got us really, and high street decline.”

The chef previously told People how supportive his family had been when his restaurant empire collapsed.

"When you’re tested like I’ve been, all that matters is friends, family and health,” he explained.

“The best antidote in the world."

Oliver’s new venture, Pasta Dreams, with delivery-first restaurant group Taster, will see his Italian-inspired dishes available on Uber Eats, Deliveroo and other platforms.

Read more: Jamie Oliver wants to cook for frontline workers and other pandemic heroes

The star is starting with pop-up spaces in London’s Soho and Paris, but has plans for the service to be rolled out further in the UK.

Additional reporting from PA.

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