Italian restaurant chain Zizzi to open second Northern Ireland venue

The move comes six years after the restaurant chain, owned by Azzurri food group, opened in the Victoria Square, creating 35 jobs.

A recruitment campaign has already been launched and its is understood the company, which also has three branches in Dublin, is eyeing a larger expansion on the island of Ireland.

Zizzi is among a number of restaurant and leisure operators setting up shop in the new-look Odyssey Pavillion, two-years after it was closed as part of Matagorda 2’s £17m refurbishment.

The private investment firm, which is backed by Deutsche Bank, acquired the long lease for the Odyssey Pavilion in 2016.

Cinema giant Cineworld has already opened its first Northern Ireland outlet at the Odyssey, while bowling alley operator Hollywood Bowl will open inside the pavilion on April 14

The move comes just 20 months after the Azzurri group, which includes the ASK Italian chain, was bought out of administration by US investment firm Towerbrook Capital Partners.

The rescue deal, launched as the first wave of Covid-19 decimated the hospitality industry, resulted in the closure of 75 restaurant sites, with around 1,200 jobs lost.

The Azzurri Group had been previously acquired by Bridgepoint Capital for £250 million in 2015.

It’s understood Towerbrook paid £109.5 million for Azzuri, which also owns the Coco di Mama Italian takeaway chain.