Spaghetti House (restaurant chain)
| Spaghetti House | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The Spaghetti House in Goodge Street, 2017 | |
Interactive map of Spaghetti House | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1955 |
| Closed | 2026 |
| Owner | Lavarini family |
| Food type | Italian |
| Website | www |
Spaghetti House was a chain of family-run Italian restaurants in the United Kingdom. The first Spaghetti House restaurant was opened in London by Simone Lavarini and Lorenzo Fraquelli in 1955.[1][2]
History
Spaghetti House was founded in Goodge Street, London, in 1955 by Simone Lavarini and Lorenzo Fraquelli.[3] The chain marketed itself as serving authentic Italian pasta dishes at a time when Italian cuisine was still relatively unfamiliar in Britain, using the slogan "Spaghetti, but not on toast".[4]
The company expanded during the 1960s and 1970s within London, opening a second restaurant in Sicilian Avenue in 1969, followed by locations in Oxford Street, Victoria, Knightsbridge and Cranbourn Street.[5]
The Spaghetti House branch in Knightsbridge became famous in 1975 as the site of the Spaghetti House siege,[2] where three robbers took the restaurant staff hostage following a failed robbery. The siege ended five days later with the release of all hostages.[6]
By the 1980s, Spaghetti House products were also being sold through retailers including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.[7]
As of 2025, the company was owned by Lavval Restaurant Group, controlled by the Lavarini family.[8]
In May 2026, Lavval Restaurants entered administration and Spaghetti House closed its five remaining restaurants in London, located at Marble Arch, Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, Kensington High Street and Cranbourn Street.[9]
References
- ↑ "Spaghetti House Founder Simone Lavarini Dies". Issuu. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- 1 2 Rayner, Jay (14 April 2024). "A Braccetto, London: 'It does its thing well at a good price' – restaurant review". The Guardian.
Spaghetti House has had us on toast for 70 years – but will its new venture be a high street favourite?
- ↑ "Spaghetti House Founder Simone Lavarini Dies". Issuu. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- ↑ "Our Story". Spaghetti House. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
- ↑ "Our Story". Spaghetti House. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
- ↑ "1975: London's Spaghetti House siege ends". BBC News. 1975-10-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- ↑ "Our Story". Spaghetti House. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
- ↑ Lutrario, Joe (2024-02-16). "Spaghetti House owner to launch 'next gen' Italian restaurant format". restaurantonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- ↑ "70-year-old restaurant group Spaghetti House closes". Restaurant Online. 2026-05-14. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
External links
Media related to Spaghetti House (British restaurant chain) at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
