THE Herts Advertiser can confirm that Jamie’s Italian restaurant will be moving into The Bell premises in St Albans after months of speculation.
Applications for a midnight licence and planning permission to convert the pub on Chequer Street from a public house into a restaurant have been received by the district council, as well as plans to demolish the existing conservatory and build a single-storey side extension.
The plans are still under consideration.
Planning permission was originally sought to turn The Bell, which closed down around two-and-a-half years ago, into shops.
Jamie’s Italian is known for frequently housing its eateries in listed buildings. Jamie Oliver’s Italian chain of restaurants says it aims to create authentic rustic dishes that are accessible and affordable, and there are 14 others located throughout the UK.
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