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A huge part of the celeb chef’s childhood has now come to an end.
Famous English chef, Jamie Oliver, has experienced a big blow as his parents, Trevor and Sally have chosen to sell off their family owned business.
In the past, the friendly cook has admitted that his parents’ Essex pub, the Cricketers in Clavering, helped ignite “his passion for food” as a young lad.
Now, almost 45 years after purchasing the establishment, the couple revealed they aim to retire as they sold their landmark inn – to Chestnut group, a group of pubs, inns and restaurants across the Eastern area of England.
Speaking to The Caterer, Trevor explained: “We have had an amazing time running the inn, which has been our home for the last 44 years. We brought up our children, trained and supported hundreds of staff in the hospitality sector and made many friends for life.
“But with a great team and strong support from our loyal customers in place we felt it was the right time to move on.”
He continued: “So, we have taken the decision to hand over the keys to Chestnut and look forward to seeing the next phase in the life of the Cricketers from the other side of the bar.”
According to The Sun, Jamie previously said of the pub: “I remember being fascinated by what went on in the kitchen. It just seemed such a cool place, everyone working together to make this lovely stuff and having a laugh doing it.”
The newspaper also reports that friends of Jamie have confirmed the culiary great was beyond “gutted” by the move.
“He agrees it’s time for Trevor and Sally to move on, but that doesn’t make it any easier for him to stomach,” a source said.
“The Cricketers is where he discovered his love of cooking and the kitchen, and he has very fond memories of it.”
Although it’s understandable that Jamie may be sad about the business decision – the founder of Chestnut group, Philip Turner, reassured The Caterer that the company did not have any plans to make “significant changes” to the popular pub.
“We are delighted to have acquired the Cricketers, an inn we’ve wanted to add to our growing collection for some time,” Philip explained.
“The way the business is managed – with a strong emphasis on good quality food with accommodation – makes it a perfect fit for our collection.
“We will focus on maintaining its well-deserved reputation. We do however look forward to getting to know the team and guests and building on all the hard work and energy Trevor and Sally have put into the business over the years.”
