AIBU to wish Jamie Oliver actually ran the cafe on Southend Pier all the time rather than just using it as a film set?

[UndertheCedartree]

We visited Southend Pier recently and it made me think it's a shame Jamie doesn't invest in Southend a bit more by running it as a proper cafe. Just wondered what others thought.

I do think it’s funny he gets all these celebs up there and I wonder what they think of Southend!
I don’t think he should run it all the time or invest in Southend more. I think they should make parking cheaper and more parking spaces. It’s so frustrating in the summer when you have to get there really early or just get stuck in all the traffic looking for spaces.

Most of his chain has gone bust leaving lots without a job

Given the way he treated his workers in the Jamie's chain, no, he should never be allowed to run a business again.

(But inevitably will...)

He's got his fingers in a lot of pies hasn't he? Can't stand the bloke. So much 'i love me ...'

How did he treat his workers NoBaggy?

There is something "off" about him.

I went to the original 15 restaurant when it first opened many years ago. I didn't expect him to be there, he wasn't

I've been to Jimmy's farm & he was there

Jamie has lots of separate businesses, food, TV, books, cook ware....

What has 'Sarfend' ever done to be lumbered with Oliver? I'm still waiting for him to fuck off as he threatened to leave the country if Leave won the Brexit referendum... still waiting.

Can’t stand him or his wife. Given what has happened to his restaurant chain and its demise, I don’t think he’s a good candidate for running any business.

You wouldn't be able to afford to use it then.

That's interesting about his businesses - I didn't know that.

I suppose it just irks me a bit that people think he runs a cafe on Southend pier like 'back to his roots' type of thing but actually it is just a film set.

@mammamia19 - to be fair he's not going to fund parking spaces but if more money was brought in by him investing in the cafe then maybe the council could spend it on more parking spaces.

In Padstow Rick Stein has a restaurant, cafe, chip shop, bakery, cookware shop. He doesn't run between each of them to keep them running. He is also away making TV programmes & writing books.

@SilverySurfer he was born locally, he's our local superstar... behind Helen Mirren I must add!

@R3sp0nsibleReas0n - He is around at the restaurant in the winter though

@R3sp0nsibleReas0n - sorry I didn't make myself clear - I don't expect him to be there physically running the cafe himself. The cafe is only used as a filmset - it is not a real cafe atall.

I think many people might prefer he did not visit Southend. His mockney accent and the stupid names his children are called are enough for me to avoid his shows.

alohadaisy
@SilverySurfer he was born locally, he's our local superstar

I didn't know big mouthed, gobby git = superstar. IMO he's about as far from a superstar as you can get. So pleased he's behind Helen Mirren in your estimation

@forallthesaints - as I've said I'm not talking about his physical presence. But his investment. And stupid names? Poppy and Daisy are as common as it comes and while Petal, Buddy and River are more unusual - they're hardly unheard of. Round here, anyway no one would bat an eyelid at those names!

This wasn't meant to be a slag off JO post. It was more of a question as to whether celebrities should invest in their local area (or childhood/family local area)

@SilverySurfer it was intended tongue in cheek

@alohadaisy

I thought he was from Clavering?

@charityconundrum - yes he was and he also has family who own a pub in Pagelsham (where he used to work I believe). There is also a cafe run by the Oliver family on Southend seafront.

Wow - I didn't realise he had taken over so much of Essex! It was all the talk around Clavering when he was first on TV - clearly they were trying to get in first and claim him before they realised...!