Marco Pierre White is in talks to launch his Frankie’s chain of high-street Italian restaurants in the USA.

The move follows the chain’s forthcoming debut in Ireland after hospitality group Fitzers purchased the rights to operate the brand in the country last month.

However, while Frankie’s comprises an Italian-themed chain of restaurants in the UK and Ireland, the US version is likely to be more along the lines of a sports bar.

Marco Pierre White told the LA Times he’s working on “rolling out a chain of sports bars, which are highly glamorous and girl- and family-friendly”.

“They come under the Frankie's umbrella. I just think that most sports bars cater too much to blokes,” he said. “I'm negotiating in two cities in America (which ones, I can't say). They might be called Frankie's, or Marco & Frankie's.”

White, the first British chef to gain three Michelin stars, and jockey Frankie Dettori founded Frankie's Bar & Grill restaurant in London in 2004.

There are currently six outlets in the UK – Piccadilly, Knightsbridge, Putney, Chiswick, a concession in Selfridges and one restaurant at Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge stadium. There are also outposts in Dubai and Shanghai.

Read the LA Times interview with Marco Pierre White here >>

Marco Pierre White's Frankie's Bar & Grill makes Irish debut >>

Marco to open sixth Frankie's at Chelsea FC stadium >>

Exclusive video interview with Marco Pierre White at the 2008 Chef Conference >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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