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Zizzi

Zizzi Restaurants Limited,[3][4] trading as Zizzi, is a chain of Italian-inspired restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland based in London, England. It is the sister restaurant of ASK Italian, both having been founded by Adam and Sam Kaye.[2] In February 2015, Bridgepoint Capital completed a £250 million acquisition of the two brands.[5] They were subsequently bought by TowerBrook Capital Partners in 2020.[6]

Locations

The first Zizzi restaurant opened in Chiswick in 1999.[1][7] As of October 2025, the Zizzi portfolio includes 138 restaurants. About 27 in London and Greater London, as well as locations throughout the United Kingdom (and also Dublin in ROI).

On 17 July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Azzurri Group, owner of the Zizzi and ASK Italian chains, announced the closure of 75 restaurants with the loss of up to 1,200 jobs.[8]

Notable incidents

Strand self-harm incident

On 22 April 2007, a 35-year-old Polish man entered the Zizzi restaurant on The Strand and made his way into the kitchen, where he obtained a knife. He then used it to sever his penis in front of diners.[9] Whilst it was initially believed that attempts to re-attach the appendage had been unsuccessful, The Guardian reported later that week that surgeons had, in fact, been able to do so, "in the first operation of its kind in the country", a procedure that was carried out at St Thomas' Hospital after police recovered the penis from the restaurant floor.[10]

Salisbury nerve agent poisoning

The Zizzi in Salisbury was linked to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal since the pair had dined there. Those who had eaten at the restaurant and the nearby Mill Pub on Sunday 4 or Monday 5 March 2018 were advised to take measures such as washing or wiping their personal belongings, even though the risk of harm to other diners was reported to be "low".[11]

Philanthropy

In the summer of 2011, Zizzi began using the Pennies service in all their restaurants to give customers the option to top up their bill with a 20p donation to charity. By March 2012, over £50,000 had been raised for charity, with the majority going to long-standing charity partner The Prince's Trust. Pennies with Zizzi was crowned "Project of the Year" by the Real IT Awards in 2012, also picking up the prize for Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility.[12] In 2020, Zizzi won the Lausanne Index Prize for Novel Product of the Year.[13]

See also

  • List of Italian restaurants

External links

References

  1. Find your Local Zizzi Restaurant | Italian Restaurants Zizzi, retrieved 6 June 2021^
  2. Joe Lutrario. Business Profile: Zizzi Restaurant, 2011-06-07, retrieved 2024-04-24^
  3. ZIZZI RESTAURANTS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK Companies House, 2016-09-30, retrieved 2023-08-03^
  4. Privacy Policy Zizzi, retrieved 2023-08-03^
  5. Bridgepoint Completes £250 Million Acquisition of ASK ITALIAN and ZIZZI Bridgepoint, retrieved 26 June 2019^
  6. Azzurri Group acquired in pre-pack by Towerbrook Capital Partners RPBI OPenings, retrieved 3 January 2023^
  7. Greater London Archives Zizzi, retrieved 26 June 2019^
  8. Restaurant chain Zizzi and Ask Italian closing 75 branches BBC News, 17 July 2020, retrieved 18 July 2020^
  9. Man cuts off penis in restaurant BBC News, 24 April 2007, retrieved 3 March 2021^
  10. Lee Glendinning. Man who cut off penis has it reattached The Guardian, 25 April 2007, retrieved 3 March 2021^
  11. Russian spy: Salisbury diners told to wash possessions BBC News, 11 March 2018, retrieved 21 July 2018^
  12. Untitled Prezi Prezi, retrieved 27 September 2015^
  13. 2020 L.I.P. Novel Product of the Year - Zizzi retrieved 25 April 2024^