LIVING VENTURES the restaurant and bar company who developed "THE LIVING ROOM" brand has unveiled plans for the next exciting phase in the company's future growth.
The company is to invest up to £10 MILLION in renaming, rebranding and refurbishing its existing EST EST EST restaurants into "GUSTO restaurant and bar" . Gusto (Latin for ‘taste' and Italian for ‘vigour') will replace all of Living Ventures' Ests by September next year. The change will mark the end of Est Est Est on the high street.

One of the first units to undergo a major transformation is the Living Ventures Quayside restaurant, which is due to open in February 2008. The venue will be treated to a £1 million pound refurbishment and Living Ventures are actively seeking to recruit 50 new high calibre employees interested in developing a career in the restaurant and bar industry. The restaurant is seeking chefs at all levels, waiters, waitresses, bar tenders and support staff.

LIVING VENTURES co-founders Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts who created and conceptualised the highly successful "Living Room" brand are renowned for their innovative and exciting restaurant and bar concepts.  

GUSTO will be at the cutting edge of contemporary restaurant design whilst taking influence from 1950's American Italian restaurants in terms of glamour and the sense of family.  It will offer first class friendly service and a menu developed by Stefano Vannini, GUSTO's Tuscan development chef, which focuses on freshly prepared classic and contemporary Italian dishes. All produce is sourced responsibly and where possible local suppliers who use traditional, sustainable and natural methods of husbandry are used to provide the best and freshest produce available.  

The Newcastle exterior will feature an illuminated olive tree promenade, thick hardwood benches and large heated parasols.  Inside the restaurant will be completely refurbished with an emphasis on glamour and style

Sue Crimes, Operations Director for this new Living Ventures brand commented;
  "We're looking for people who are committed to providing the best in customer service at all levels.  Ideally we are looking for the perfect balance of personality, skill, style and cool that will satisfy some of the most discerning diners and drinkers.  Passion and personality are equally as important as experience. In return we will offer you a continued development and training programme and are always looking to reward commitment and determination with the opportunity to succeed."

Living Ventures own fifteen restaurant and bars throughout the UK with a rapid expansion plan currently underway.  The company offer a continued development and training programme with many opportunities for staff to diversify and advance their careers across the company.

Sue Crimes now Operations Director of this new brand , is living testament to this career philosophy having worked her way through the ranks at Living Ventures starting as restaurant supervisor in Via Vita, Chester. Sue is now responsible for the day to day operations of ten Living Ventures restaurants and reports directly to Living Ventures founders Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts.  

Tim Bacon co-founder and Managing Director of Living Ventures commented;
"The recruitment and retention of highly motivated and talented people is the most important part of our business. Keeping hold of and developing skilled staff is essential to the ongoing success of Living Ventures. We invest a huge amount of time, resources and money, in giving new staff the best possible start on the career ladder when they join our company. It is critical to engage people in our concept and offering in order to give them the confidence they need to provide first class service. Living Ventures is entering an exciting stage of expansion and this is an opportunity to work with great people in a high-energy environment."

Living Ventures is synonymous with quality food and drink, excellent service and stylish surroundings. The continued roll-out of the new concept will begin from September with all ten former EST EST EST branches set to be converted by Autumn 2008.