The History Of

Olivo Restaurants Ltd

The history of Olivo Restaurants begins in 1997 when Mr. Simon Gurney, the Chairman of Olivo Restaurants, employed Mr. Fulvio Bertani, the current Managing Director and Mrs. Nicola Jayne Bertani in order to set up the first Olivo in Guildford, 53 Quarry Street. After a journey to Italy in early 1997, Mr. Gurney realised that the UK lacked Italian restaurants focusing on the traditional cuisine, the one that Italians eat at home or in the restaurants off the tourist stream.

Olivo in Guildford proved very successful and in 1999 the second operation, Olivetto (The little OLIVO) was opened in Guildford Tunsgate, in front of the historic Guildford Guildhall. In 2000 Olivo Port Solent was opened, a restaurant set in the impressing Port Solent marina, where one can enjoy a meal surrounded by multimillion boats.

After a few years of consolidation on the market scene, in July 2003 the new Olivo Surbiton was opened and it proved successful from the beginning.

In April 2007 the new Olivo Woking was opened in the heart of the shopping centre, close to the theatre and Peacock shopping centre.

It is difficult to say where the next Olivo will be opened, however we are sure that other Olivo Restaurants will be opened according to our expansion plan.

Our Philosophy

We like to think of our restaurants as a stage in which we perform a passionate Italian play. The dishes, the wines, the setting and even the music we play. Everything is geared to be pleasurable. Our customers are the audience who gives us all the support to this play, and who have learned to love it with the same passion we do. From the kitchen porter up to the Chefs to the restaurant manager, everybody knows that we are in business to satisfy our customers and give them an unforgettable Italian experience.