Pictured above: Vito Cataffo

Unstoppable Vito Cataffo is preparing to serve up more county jobs after setting his sights on opening another Lincolnshire restaurant.

Vito is investing £300,000 in Grantham, where he has embarked on a major revamp of the once popular Malt Shovel pub, which has been closed for the past six months. 

The restaurateur is totally gutting the downstairs floor of what was originally The Blue Man Pub, at the corner of Welby Street. And he is on a mission to create a stylish Italian eaterie designed to attract diners from miles around. 

Vito  starred in the television series La Dolce Vito - where he and his fiancée Margharita trawled Italy in search of new restaurant premises and also toured the UK meeting top

British food producers -  before opening an English restaurant called Passion, in Bologna. 

He is now out to make his mark in Grantham, after launching Mia, in Sleaford, earlier this year. 

And Vito will be basing  his latest restaurant on his flagship county venue, Gino's, off Bailgate, Lincoln. He also owns Zucchini in Silver Street (Lincoln) and Via Italiano in Newark.

Having his UK restaurants within an easy drive of each other is  all part of Vito's plan to keep his finger on the pulse. It also allows him to get to know many customers personally. 

"I have been exploring the potential to take my brand of Italian dining to Grantham for some time. The town is growing and is poised to get more housing.  It is also close to the A1 and there are many villages within its catchment area," said Vito.

"The new restaurant will  create 35 new jobs for the town and I expect to welcome our first diners in mid-to-late October.

"The old Malt Shovel is a great building, and we are modelling our new restaurant on Gino's, which has a great atmosphere. We plan to seat up to 150 people inside the building and another 30 in the rear courtyard. There will also be tables and chairs to seat 20 more outside the front of the restaurant."

The new eaterie will open seven-days-a-week, from 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm, daily, and the menu will feature Vito's usual offers.

Meanwhile, Grantham-based Bickford Ltd, which owns the building is converting the upper floor into a flat. 

Director and owner Russ Clough said: "We have already had a successful working relationship with Vito in Sleaford, where he  has launched Mia in the town's Old Sessions House." 

Vito has already started his search for talented local people who want to join his team, including a general manager and a chef. Anyone wanting to know more about his latest job opportunities can call him direct on - 07796 822444.