Family-run San Marco restaurant group opens venue number five

Stratos, which has 80-90 covers plus further seating for diners at the bar, is the smallest restaurant in the group compared to Pinocchio's in Walton Le Dale, The Italian Orchard in Broughton, Angelo's in Preston and San Marco in Much Hoole.

The restaurant launched at the end of last year in a former French bistro in Preston and is the fifth venue for the group which was founded in the Lancashire market town more than three decades ago.

Hands-on​

Speaking to BigHospitality, Carlo Bragagnini, who now oversees the company, said the secret to its success was its family ethos.

"We are very hands-on," he explained. "We are an entirely family-owned and run business. There is a member of the family in every restaurant and if there isn't one of us visits every day. We work hard and put a lot of time in.

"We are very visible," he continued. "We are serving the customers, taking the orders, cooking in the kitchen and I think that does make a big difference."

The San Marco restaurant in Much Hoole is housed within a former pub and Carlo explained the conversion of countryside pubs with large car parks to restaurants could form a model for the future development of the firm.

"There are a lot of pubs coming up at the moment and we are constantly looking for new sites. That is the key - plenty of chimney pots around them but not so much in the town centre," he said.

Authentic​

Stratos focuses on a strong wine and cocktail offer alongside an accompanying menu of small tapas-style dishes - a popular concept not unlike fellow North West operator San Carlo's Cicchetti brand.​

"Angelo's is next door so we didn't want to compete with ourselves - we don't offer anything that Angelo's does," said Carlo. "It is really a wine and cocktail bar with small sharing plates but Italian influenced.

"We are not quite to that level (San Carlo's Cicchetti) because that is probably more food-based while we are pushing the drinks side of things. We have got a full bar license, we are open till 3am on the weekends. It is more of an entertainment place than a restaurant," he added.

Giulio Bragagnini, the executive chef of the group, works with nearby and Italian suppliers to source a mix of authentic products and local, seasonal ingredients for all five restaurants. The group also has strong links with local Italian catering schools to help staff recruitment.

Meanwhile, the refurb ahead of Stratos' opening was overseen by another Italian craftsman - architect Umberto Spanghero.

2013 is expected to be a year of consolidation for the group with refurbs planned for The Italian Orchard and Angelo's but future expansion is certainly in Carlo's sights. 

"If the right opportunity came along we would take a look at it, we would sit down with the bank and see if it was viable," he concluded.