Jo Askey

San Carlo Restaurant Group

OUR STORY The San Carlo story begins in Sicily, the birthplace of our chairman Carlo Distefano. A tale of entrepreneurial success, Carlo arrived in Britain in 1962 aged 17, with £12 in his pocket, a work permit and the promise of a job at a barbershop. A self-confessed workaholic, by the age of 20, Carlo opened his first joint business venture, a hairdressing salon in Leeds; he also had interests in a coffee bar and disco. But food was always to be Carlo's primary passion, working six or seven days a week, any free time would be spent in London where he'd dine at the most lauded restaurants in the city – including the Savoy, the Dorchester and Simpsons. It was here that Carlo's passion for great food, style and service became his driving force. In 1992 Carlo opened his first eponymously named restaurant in Temple Street, Birmingham, then a humble 20 table restaurant. Celebrities, sporting stars and loyal diners made San Carlo their restaurant of choice and soon Carlo had a success on his hands, Bristol opened in 1996, Leicester in the late 90's and then Manchester, which has gone on to become possibly the highest profile, busiest restaurant outside of London