Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo has revealed big plans to MARRY couples who choose to wed at his luxurious new restaurant in Alderley Edge.
Italian chef Gino has previously officiated at weddings, and is now planning to use those little-known skills to the benefit of his customers and fans at his Luciano restaurant in the posh Cheshire village.
He opened Luciano at the start of January, having taken over the former Piccolino site on London Road to become his new "high end" Italian restaurant brand.
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And Gino is now in the midst of a major renovation of the upper floor of the building to become a plush new events space where wedding parties and events can be held.
The space had formerly been YU Chinese restaurant, but that closed last year, and is now part of the full Luciano restaurant, named after Gino's eldest son.
Gino told the MEN that he hopes to marry a number of couples over the course of the year HIMSELF in civil ceremonies at the site.
He said: "I would love to marry people, and the upstairs space here is going to be amazing.
"I hope that I can marry maybe six couples a year here.
"But the space it will be open all year round for private events and weddings, even divorce parties if you like."
Fans of Gino's hit ITV show Gordon, Gino and Fred's Road Trip will have seen him officiate a wedding before - when he hosted a vow renewal ceremony for his best friends Marco and Cleo on the beach in Sardinia.
Gino explained on the TV show that he had officiated at their original wedding ceremony in the same spot four years earlier.
He was seen leading the vows at the dream waterside ceremony in the episode first aired on ITV last year - although he did appear to be reading the vows from one of his own cookbooks.
And fellow chef Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix couldn't quite believe it when Gino got stuck in for a kiss from the bride before the groom actually did during the ceremony.
The events space at Luciano will be available to hire for wedding parties and other events - and of course you wouldn't have to have Gino doing the honours.
Indeed, the restaurant is also hoping to capitalise on its proximity to Alderley Edge's St Philip's and St James' church - just across the road - to cater for wedding breakfasts of those choosing to have traditional church weddings.
There's no date set yet for the launch of the upper room, but work has begun on the refurbishment and revamp of the space.
Gino launched his "upmarket Italian dining brand" Luciano in the village in January, having taken over the site from Piccolino, to become his second Luciano after the first opened in London at the plush ME Hotel.
He said it will offer "five star dining" with the best authentic ingredients that he sources from Italy.
He revealed at that time to the MEN that he has already started work on a THIRD Luciano in Manchester city centre, although was remaining tight-lipped about the location at that time.
"So we are currently working on what will probably be my biggest site yet in Manchester, it's going to be huge, over three floors with a sky lounge, terrace, it's going to be amazing.
"They are busy chiselling away on it as we speak and should open before the Summer."
The MEN understands it will be a plum city centre site for the first Manchester Luciano.
He also says he has plans to open the "biggest Italian restaurant in Birmingham" in the year ahead, as well as new sites in Sheffield and Leeds.
This Morning chef Gino will be back on hosting duties at Luciano in Alderley Edge for a special "Evening with" event being held at the restaurant on Wednesday, March 9, which is open for bookings now.
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