
Jamie’s Italian Canberra has not been able to escape the downturn in fortunes for Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire. Photo: Jamie’s Italian.
Jamie’s Italian Canberra has closed suddenly, with the Canberra Centre restaurant not opening on Monday and the phone disconnected.
Both Fairfax and the ABC reported that a statement from the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group had confirmed the closure ‘with immediate effect’.

They also announced that Brisbane-based Hallmark Group would take over operating the Australian franchise of the Italian chain.
Jamie’s Italian restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Parramatta and Adelaide will now operate under Hallmark Group, and the Canberra restaurant is the only Australian Jamie’s Italian franchise to close.
The ABC reported that the closure meant 41 people had lost their jobs – 13 full-time and 28 casual. The establishment has said that all workers will be compensated.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver took control of his Australian holdings a little over 12 months ago, buying his six Jamie’s Italian restaurants from the receivers of the failed Keystone Group, but since then, Oliver’s UK interests have run into trouble.