Interview - Yossi Eliyahoo, creator and co-owner of Chino Latino fusion restaurants

Who is he? Creator and co-owner of Chino Latino fusion restaurants.

There are currently three, all in Park Plaza hotels (his co-owner is the hotels' owner): Nottingham opened fi rst in 2003, followed by Leeds in 2004 and then London on the Albert Embankment in 2005.

How did he get into the industry? Israeli-born Eliyahoo has been working in kitchens since he was 12 years old, but his fi rst professional post was at the Picasso restaurant in Tel Aviv, where he worked his way up from Bar Manager to General Manager. He then opened the City Café and a few restaurants in Tel Aviv.

Eliyahoo's next move found him in Nottingham where he created the Chino Latino brand.

How much is he worth? His company is private but he says, "We're doing very well.

We're defi nitely worth millions and we're going to open more restaurants."

What's the best business advice he has been given? "That there are no short cuts in this industry."

What's the most important thing he has learnt? "You cannot fool people. You must give value for money because there are no second chances in this industry."

Biggest mistake he's ever made?

"I opened a club with the wrong partners once. It didn't work out and lost us a lot of time and money."

Biggest industry inspiration? "New York's restaurants and bars – they're the coolest in the world at the moment."

Plans for the future?

Eliyahoo's opening a new steak restaurant concept for the Victoria Park Plaza due to open in the summer. "It'll be like somewhere in New York with the aged meat of a really high standard."

This has potential for rollout, "people always love meat". Chino Latino is also set to open in Amsterdam and they're looking at taking the restaurant to other big cities in Europe.

chinolatino.co.uk