Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has selected the largest Scottish metropolitan area of Glasgow as the latest location for his fast-expanding Jamie’s Italian business.

A tribute to the city’s architectural history, the new restaurant on George Square has been inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of Glasgow’s favourite sons and building designers.

Communication and recruitment expert for the company, Sarah Stephenson, commented, “We’ve got ourselves one of Glasgow’s top spots – the old GPO building on George Square – and thanks to the ability of our designers to brilliantly blend classic architecture with rustic Italy and a twist of Jamie’s own contemporary style, Jamie’s Italian is really creating a stir.”

In terms of recruitment, Stephenson added, “After just three weeks of advertising the positions available, we received in excess of 1400 applicants all eager to be part of this brand new venture. We have managed to secure a fantastic team of close to 100 people in record time to bring this restaurant to life.”

Scotland’s original celebrity chef Nick Nairn is reported to have said earlier this year that the new Jamie’s would be “hip and egalitarian” and would give existing restaurants and other food outlets the necessary impetus to hone their offerings.

With the business officially launched just two years ago in 2008, restaurants under the Jamie’s Italian umbrella can already be found in various locations across the country: Bath; Brighton; Cambridge; Canary Wharf; Cardiff; Guildford; Kingston; Leeds; Liverpool; Oxford; and Reading. The latest two additions scheduled for launch in July 2010 are Westfield and Glasgow.

Posted by Matt on the 25th June 2010