Thieving diners steal 30,000 Jamie Oliver napkins
Thieving diners are stealing 30,000 of his napkins a month, according to celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver.
The entrepreneur, who has an Italian in the heart of Cheltenham, said light-fingered restaurant-goers are taking thousands of the customised blue and white linen napkins as a souvenir from their visit.
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Jamie Oliver
The 37-year-old said he has also had to weld on expensive bathroom fittings following thefts from the toilets.
He told Radio Times: "I have noticed things in this recession. Like people nicking the linen napkins from our restaurants.
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"We now lose about 30,000 a month. And there's another thing: every restaurant of mine has the old-fashioned Thomas Crapper toilets because I've always thought they look wicked.
"But they're really expensive and we've had to have the handles and flushers welded on because people were unscrewing them and nicking them.
"Honestly, some people were coming out for a meal and going home with half a toilet. Bonkers."
Customers who want to recreate the look at home can buy a pack of four blue-and-white napkins – embroidered with the words Jamie's Italian – for £8.
But the same cloths – apparently stolen from one of his chain of 30 restaurants - can be bought on eBay for £7.49.
Last week, Mr Oliver confronted a contestant on the Australian version of TV cooking competition Masterchef for stealing one.
Other diners boasted openly on Twitter about stealing his napkins, and even posted photos of their ill-gotten wares.
Yesterday, Mr Oliver's spokesman said: "Although we do lose a fair few napkins, it is not near that number. People mostly want them as souvenirs. There is not much we can do about people selling them on eBay."
Comments
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 1:05PM
“Oh come now Badgerman, I've been to Stroud. The culinary highlight is when Subway launch a new sandwich.”
by Badgerman
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 12:29PM
“Dr_Hfrrrrr Don't blame us Stroudies! If I want a 'fancy meal', believe me I don't go to Cheltenham, it's not as up-market as you like to think it is! After all, it is just a Town and not a City!”
by Jimmy231
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 9:26PM
“That's a real shame..Jamie needs those napkins to wipe up his spit every time he speaks.”
by theone
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 5:31PM
“amazing mr oliver is quick to moan about people stealing from him.
He pays some chefs £6-7 an hour and some chefs are working over 70 hours a week.
thats victorian conditions mr oliver”
by DG9999
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 4:27PM
“Nothing to do with me-I never eat at the all too frequently grossly over priced poor value restaurants in this country-trendy or otherwise.”
by Faire_La_Moue
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 2:41PM
“Is it the thrill of getting away with thievery?
Or the desire to feel that you have got your money's worth??
Not sure the 'Jamie' tag on a bit of pasta is worth the bother either way.”
by halfdome1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 1:38PM
“Nibnobs - that's not the point though is it? Why should he have to put up with people nicking stuff just because he is well off?”
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 12:22PM
“This is what happens when the Glostonians and Stroudies come to Cheltenham for a 'fancy meal' (which for them is something that doesn't come in a styrofoam box and needs cutlery to eat it)
They get all overexcited at the sight of shiny things, clean linen and indoor toilets. Bless 'em.”
by NibNobs
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:28AM
“He can afford it - he makes £2-3 million from each book”
by Furrybits
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:23AM
“Jamie soooooooooooooooooooooooooo needs the publicity AGAIN is he not rich enough. Just buy good quality paper serviettes and screw all fixtures and fittings to the walls and seal the handles with super glue - problem solved. Silly man.”