Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (pictured) is expanding his Oxford restaurant, less than a year after it first opened. The restaurant, Jamie’s Italian, will extend into the former Avid Record building adjacent to the George Street eaterie.

The Oxford premises on the site of the former Cock and Camel pub was the first in the country to open last June and regularly attracts queues of diners spilling out of the door.

Jamie Oliver’s spokesman, Peter Berry, said the expansion would seat another 70 diners and create ten new jobs taking the total number of staff to 80. He added: “We are expecting to open the new bit towards the end of June and the buiding is being converted now.

“Hopefully the queues will get shorter as we’ll be able to cater for more people. We’re developing a private function room which will help larger parties wanting to eat plus local businesses wanting a cool place for big meetings.”

Since opening in the city, the chain has opened branches in Bath, Kingston on Thames and Brighton with more openings planned in London’s Canary Wharf and Cardiff planned later this year.

The deal was struck with owners Oxford City Council which will receive a rent of £42,000 a year for a 24-year lease.