Ciro Orsini's path from boxing ring to restaurant fame

Just a stone's throw away from the world-famous Harrods department store in London's Knightsbridge, there is a white three-story terraced house with a small narrow entrance above which hovers a black canopy awning with a tomato-shaped logo: Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro.

Once inside this Italian pub-restaurant in the basement, one cannot fail to notice hundreds of photos of its celebrity clients on the walls. Tom Hanks, Paul McCartney, David Beckham, Andrea Bocelli, Kiera Knightly are all smiles with their arms around the shoulders of a beaming round-faced man, the owner of the restaurant.

Ciro Orsini, the 76-year-old founder, flashed his characteristic gap-toothed smile as he remembered: "When I first opened Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro in 1978, I did not want to serve good food and drinks only. I wanted to make it a unique place for live music and entertainment."

The boxer-turned-restaurateur has certainly not pulled his punches in the pursuit of his objectives. After 47 years, Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro has become the original pizzeria that gave rise to an international chain of popular celebrity-themed Italian restaurants owned by Orsini, including one in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro in Knightsbridge has long established itself as a go-to spot where celebrities, sports personalities and music lovers dine in peace, shielded from the prying eyes of paparazzi. Reservations are booked weeks in advance, and in the eyes of many people, the venue is an institution in London's nightlife.

Born in Naples in 1949, Orsini started his childhood with a dream of a life in the boxing ring. His natural talent quickly propelled him to Milan and Rome, the heart of Italy's boxing scene, where he trained under esteemed coaches and became a rising star, until fate intervened.

He was called to serve in the army, spending 18 months in military service, during which time he could not maintain the rigorous training required for an aspiring professional boxer.

Having completed his duty, he found himself on the ropes: to risk his future pursuing the sport he loved, or throw in the towel and forge a new path.

"I thought long and hard and realized that life had more to offer beyond the ring," recalled Orsini.

Before pursuing boxing, he had worked in restaurants during his early teenage years.

"As a kid, I loved trying (to cook) with chocolates, eggs and panettone at home, but I never imagined becoming a restaurateur," he said.

But one thing led to another. In 1978, not long after coming to live in London, he bit the bullet by taking over a struggling restaurant, which had already gone bankrupt four times and was losing money every month.

Punching well above his weight, the Italian was hell-bent on transforming it into a special destination for dining and entertainment. He spent a full year revamping the venue, hiring the best live bands and top-tier musicians, refining the menu, and creating an atmosphere that blended fine dining with entertainment.

He said: "I realised that running a restaurant was much like boxing, it required hard work and perseverance, but the sense of achievement was equally fulfilling.

"Even more importantly, bringing happiness to others through food seemed to me no less meaningful than winning a knockout in the ring.

"Music is the soul of this restaurant, especially the bar. Without music, I would feel empty," he said.

After 47 years, Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro still holds true to this belief, with music at its heart.

"I want everyone who walks into Ciro's Pizza Pomodoro to feel at home, no matter where they come from," he added.

This is exactly the restaurateur's philosophy in managing all his other restaurants throughout the world. He masterfully used his restaurants as stages to build relationships with celebrities and influential figures, whether in Los Angeles, Monaco, Abu Dhabi or Beijing.

In the 1980s, Ciro first set foot in what he described as "the mysterious East". He opened an Italian restaurant in Beijing's Sanlitun, hiring top Italian chefs and importing all ingredients directly from Italy to guarantee authenticity. At that time, China was in the early stages of reform and opening up, and Western cuisine, let alone a high-end Italian restaurant, was still rare. But to his pleasant surprise, the restaurant thrived, with reservations in high demand.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the restaurant became a vibrant gathering place for Olympic champions from around the world. After intense days of competition, athletes flocked to his venue to relax, celebrate their victories, and enjoy his signature warmth and hospitality.

Unfortunately, due to the expiration of his lease, Orsini eventually had to close his restaurant in Beijing.

"But my affection for China only grew stronger, I must have been Chinese in a past life", he quipped. This connection is evident in his daily life, where Chinese characters and cultural elements feature prominently in his clothing and accessories.

Orsini has no intention of letting go of this connection. To this day, his menu still features a unique original pizza inspired by Chinese flavors. He is also planning to host a special "China Night" at his London restaurant, inviting Chinese bands to perform and welcoming his Chinese friends to join.

He said he believes the event will become "a grand celebration of Sino-British cultural exchange".