Russell Norman dies aged 57 following cardiac arrest
Award-winning restaurateur and BBC star Russell Norman (pictured right and with wife Jules McNally, left) has died aged 57 following a short illness in hospital, his business partner has announced.
Mr Norman died surrounded by his family and friends yesterday, reportedly after a ‘cardiac arrest’ – and just weeks after his fourth cookbook Brutto was published.
Mr Norman was lauded as the ‘new king of Soho dining’ when he quickly established himself in the London restaurant scene in 2012 after he invented the concept of small Italian plates and revived the Negroni cocktail.
Announcing the news was his business partner Richard Beatty, with whom Mr Norman co-founded the popular London restaurants Spuntino and Polpo.
Mr Beatty said: ‘It is with the greatest sadness I announce the loss of my best friend Russell Norman.
‘After a short battle in hospital, he died surrounded by family and friends.’