San Carlo toasts turnover boost

The national and international group made a profit before tax of £3.5m for the full year to 24 September 2022.

Coming after two years of trading that were seriously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, San Carlo’s directors said they were ‘delighted’ with the results.

During the period, the company opened two new sites in London: Isola by San Carlo in October 2021, and Cicchetti Knightsbridge in May 2022.

Both sites were trading ahead of expectations, according to the group.

More recently, the group acquired a site in Alderley Edge​​, and completed a major refurbishment of San Carlo Liverpool.

Earlier this month it also announced plans to relocates its West End Cicchetti restaurant from its current at 215 Piccadilly to 172-173 Piccadilly at the Grade II listed Piccadilly Arcade​​, a move that will double the size of the restaurant.

Announcing the move, Marcello Distefano, managing director at San Carlo, said: “This is a significant milestone for the group, as we look to expand our restaurant sites across the capital.

“Over the years, we’ve scaled up both in the UK with three new openings in the last couple of years, and internationally with Dubai and Miami opening soon.

“This new larger site will mean we can continue to cater for increased demand from Londoners and tourists alike.”

San Carlo was founded by the Distefano family in 1992 in Birmingham.

The restaurant group currently trades from 25 sites across the UK, seven of which are within London including Alto by San Carlo at the rooftop, Selfridges, Isola by San Carlo in St Christopher’s Place, Fumo on St Martin’s Lane, Signor Sassi and San Carlo Cicchetti restaurants in Covent Garden and Knightsbridge.

It also operates international sites in Qatar, Riyadh, Jeddah, Bahrain and Bangkok, with restaurants Miami and Dubai opening soon.