Padella and Trullo restaurants open fewer hours due to staff shortage, owner Jordan Frieda says

The owner of London’s Padella and Trullo restaurants has said the Italian diners have needed to change their opening times because of a shortage of waiters.

Jordan Frieda said the situation is “worse than Covid and energy costs” as London eateries have seen an exodus of waiters, which has been blamed by some on Brexit.

He told the New York Times: “It’s been the most traumatic event of my career in restaurants. It has been an absolutely devastating, transformative event.

“It’s worse than covid, worse than energy costs.”

An estimated 11 per cent of jobs in Britain’s hospitality industry are vacant, according to a recent industry survey, compared with 4 per cent for the wider economy.

Mr Frieda, who used to be an actor, owns Padella in Borough Market and Shoreditch as well as Trullo in Islington. He ctold the New York Times he hired a recruiter to lure staff from other restaurants but only four responded to around 100 calls with only one agreeing to a trial shift.

Many of London’s hospitality workers are from Italy, Spain and Greece, who have now either moved back or are finding it harder to come to the UK because of the Brexit restrictions.

There was a net outflow of 51,000 EU citizens in the 12 months up to June 2022, showing a sign of change with many Europeans having considered working in the UK a rite of passage.

“Brexit has been a disaster economically, culturally, personally, and in every other way,” Mr Frieda said.

A study by UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association has shown about 40 per cent of restaurants have curtailed their hours, while more than a third of restaurants, pubs and hotels could face insolvency or even closure by early 2023.

Train strikes and the cost of living crisis have also hit restaurants and pubs at a time when they would usually be doing a roaring trade in the lead up to Christmas.

Jason Atherton last month told the Standard that he would have to close several of his restaurants next year if he could not fill 350 vacancies.

He said: “I can’t open the Berners Tavern at lunchtime because I have no staff. I can only open for breakfasts for hotel guests. Social Eating House is on its knees.

“I just can’t get any chefs for that kitchen whatsoever. Little Social is really struggling to get chefs as well. I can’t even find a qualified corporate chef on a big salary who would fly around the world on business class. I can’t do anything to fill that position.”