World famous shop with 'sandwiches the size of your face' finally opening in UK

A world famous Italian "schiacciata" chain with sandwiches bigger than a human head is due to open its first store in London. All'Antico Vinaio started out from humble beginnings in Florence but has grown to have stores in 48 locations worldwide, spanning Italy, the US, and the United Arab Emirates.

The company is set to open 10 more stores by the end of 2025 and aims to achieve an annual turnover of £87 million this year. Owner Tommaso Mazzanti will open the first venue on Saturday with the first 500 guests at the Soho store to be given a free schiacciata - a traditional Florentine flatbread.

Mazzanti said: "I'm truly honored to open our first location in the UK, especially in such an important city like London. This marks a crucial milestone in All'Antico Vinaio's growth, and we hope to replicate the success we've had in the U.S.

"This is the seventh country where we're opening AV, driven by our passion for sharing a piece of Italian culinary tradition with the world."

The company, which employs more than 700 people across its sites, will open its first UK restaurant in Soho at 61 Old Compton Street.

The London menu will include the brand's signature classics, such as La Favolosa, La Schiacciata del Boss, and La Toscana, as well as specialties created exclusively for this location.

The official opening is scheduled for September 20th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.00am

The restaurant was founded in 1991 by the Mazzanti family and has gone from strength to strength in the last 30 years.

By 2014, it was a household name across Italy, with the restaurant being the most-reviewed eating establishment in the world on TripAdvisor.

Current boss Tommaso Mazzanti joined his family's business at just 16 years of age and has overseen the expansion to this point, opening his first location outside of Florence in 2020 when he established their Milan site.

The opening represents the latest foreign-owned hospitality business to spread its wings into the UK, following in the footsteps of brands such as Five Guys, Wedny's Taco Bell and Shake Shack in recent years.

But it comes at a time of struggle for many hospitality businesses as they struggle to cover the rising cost of doing business which has seen increased national insurance contributions, enhanced minimum wage terms, soaring energy bills and inflation.