A THIRD Mamma Mia restaurant could be opened next year as the award-winning Italian eatery looks to branch out to further parts of the city. 

The popular pizzeria, which celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, has revealed plans to add to its Summertown and Jericho restaurants in 2017.

Owner Jon Ellse said: “There are plans for a third Mamma Mia.

“We had a great anniversary year last year and the award reflected the hard work of the whole team.

“We want to grow and branch out to a different part of the city.

“But we are not a corporate chain, we know Oxford very well, we love it here.”

Last week it won Independent Pizza Restaurant of the Year at the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association Awards.

Mr Ellse would not reveal where the new restaurant would be but said it would be in a ‘different’ area to the other two.

Diners at the Jericho restaurant yesterday welcomed the news of a third Mamma Mia’s somewhere in the city.

Jon Charles, who works at Oxford University Press and eats at the Walton Street restaurant once a week, said: “It’s fantastic, you get really authentic Italian food and the pizza is great. 
“I’m glad they are opening another, and as I live in Cheltenham I hope they eventually move there too.”

Laura Valadez, who was eating with her husband Alfonso Gazo who works at Oxford University, said: “It’s a great place we have been coming here for many years - the service, the food, the pizza, it’s all brilliant.”

It is the latest in a number of Oxford-based restaurateurs expanding but staying in the city.

Earlier this year Rufus Thurston, who runs the popular Oli's Thai, opened a new Spanish venture Arbequina in Cowley Road and the team behind

Buongiorno E Buonasera opened their second restaurant in Headington.
Jacqui Thorndyke, founder of city food and drink guide Bitten Oxford, said it was great to see another local business expanding.

She said: "It's great to see someone growing their business here in Oxford, I love seeing independent restaurants opening and doing well here.

"There are a lot of national chains in the city, and while that's not a bad thing as they provide competition, we need a mixture.

 "The Oli's Thai team have just opened a Spanish tapas place and the guys at Buongiorno E Buonasera have opened another restaurant, and now with Mamma Mia's it's great for the city."