OWNERS of a popular Italian restaurant in Bournemouth are preparing to open their second venue, bringing what they describe as “authentic Italian food” to the heart of the town centre.
Business partners Vladimiro Celardo and Vincenzh Ammirki, who run Vicolo, are expanding with a brand-new concept: House of Focaccia by Vicolo.
Vicolo, which opened in 2022, has built a strong reputation for serving Neapolitan dishes that blend traditional Italian recipes with modern cooking techniques.
The pair hope their new venture will capture the same spirit while offering something fresh.
House of Focaccia will specialise in freshly baked Italian focaccia, with dough made in-house and cooked in a Moretti Forni oven, a specialist oven crafted in Italy.
Vladimiro said: “Our dough is made in-house and baked in a Moretti Forni oven, crafted in Italy and renowned as one of the best ovens for focaccia – giving that perfect crisp edge and fluffy centre.”
While Vicolo currently opens only in the evenings, the owners have long wanted to open new venture to expand into daytime service.
“We worked at night most of the time, just in the evening.”
“But me and my business partner are Italians, and we are passionate about food.
“We wanted to bring another real taste of Italian cuisine to town. We decided to look for a venue on the main road to offer something during the daytime”, Vladimiro said.
He said the idea of focusing on fresh focaccia came naturally because they wanted something new in Bournemouth.
He added: “It’s a type of food that is very popular in Italy and beyond. It’s freshly baked and then filled with fresh ingredients at the time.”
The team secured the new venue in February and have spent months carrying out “extensive renovation work.”
Vladimiro said their loyal customer base at Vicolo has already expressed excitement for the new opening.
“We understood that people really enjoyed the type of food we were producing, so we thought it would be good to create something alongside the restaurant,” he said.
The owners are inviting the public to celebrate their grand opening on Sunday, December 7, from 11am to 3pm.
The first 100 people through the door will receive a free focaccia (one per person, drinks not included).
Dining and Cooking