Vini Italiani plans expansion following Covent Garden opening

The company, which opened its first site on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, will open its second site at Covent Garden's Piazza later this week (10 December). 

As with Old Brompton Road, the 25-cover site at Covent Garden will serve Italian wines to drink on-site or take-away alongside Italian meats and cheeses. Vini Italiani Covent Garden will also serve coffee and breakfast alongside a selection of 'breakfast wines'. 

Afternoons will offer an Italian style afternoon tea with 'tea wines' recommended by the in-house sommelier.

Vini Italiani managing director Bruno Cernecca told BigHospitality the success of the Old Brompton Road site had led the company to look at expansion. 

"We began to search for a new location in the West End more than a year ago and we are delighted to be able to finally say that we are opening in the Covent Garden Market Estate," he said. "At Vini Italiani we believe that the combination of our Italian wine list and our cold cuts and cheese selection is the perfect way to promote the 'Aperitivo culture' amongst the multicultural and affluent audience of Central London."

Cernecca said the company was already looking at further expansion. "The next step in Vini Italiani’s expansion plan in the UK is the development of a Restaurant and Retail concept before rolling out a further three venues in the next two years. This is in addition to international expansion starting from next year’s planned franchised operation in Dublin, Ireland."