UMVA has learned that Spaghetti House, the legendary Italian eatery that has graced London’s culinary scene for decades, has collapsed into administration, shuttering all its remaining outlets.
The once-bustling chain, founded in 1955 by Simone Lavarini, had become a cultural icon, drawing crowds to its warm, family‑run kitchens across the capital.
Today, its final five locations—Marble Arch, Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, Kensington High Street, and Cranbourn Street—have all closed their doors, leaving 101 dedicated staff members suddenly unemployed.
Luigi Lavarini, who led the parent company Lavval Restaurants, blamed a perfect storm of rising costs, global instability, and shifting consumer habits for the downfall.
He described a relentless spiral of pandemic‑driven expenses, post‑Brexit uncertainty, and escalating energy and tax burdens that eroded the margins of even the most beloved establishments.
Despite relentless effort and professional advice, the decision to wind down was deemed inevitable, a painful but necessary step to stem further losses.
The chain’s first storefront, opened on Goodge Street by Lavarini and his friend Lorenzo Fraquelli, had already closed months earlier, followed by the Mayfair and Fitzrovia sites.
In a twist of fate, the 1975 Knightsbridge branch once became a stage for a dramatic hostage situation, a chapter that still echoes in the memories of locals.
Corporate administrators BTG were brought in to navigate the controlled wind‑down, confirming that market pressures and soaring operational costs had left little room for recovery.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the closure marks the end of a 70‑year chapter, a loss felt by diners, employees, and the city’s culinary heritage alike.
