Bunga Bunga hits London. Photo credit: Roberto Gimmi
Scandal-prone Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi might be surprised to discover a corner of Battersea celebrating his allegedly outrageous behavior, albeit with tongue firmly in cheek. Nightclub impresarios Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling, known for their successful Chelsea club Maggies, are opening a pizzeria to pay homage to the Italian prime minister’s notorious “bunga bunga” parties.
Describing itself as “An Englishman’s Italian”, Bunga Bunga London boasts a gondola shaped bar and a Eurovision Song Contest themed performance area. The chefs use exclusively fresh, Mediterranean produce and home made bread, as well as Bunga Bunga London’s own brand of Limoncello. There will even be a “Leaning Tower of Pizza” for the braver palate. But best of all, the pizzas are named after 74-year-old Berlusconi’s alleged conquests, such as Micaela and Ruby.
Berlusconi caused controversy after hosting a series of sex parties, dubbed “bunga bunga” parties after a crude sex act (allegedly introduced to the Italian Prime Minister by none other than Co. Muammar Gaddafi) between September 2009 and October 2010. Prosecutors in Italy claim that 33 women were paid to attend parties hosted by the Italian prime minister during this time. The controversy largely centres around the allegation that Berlusconi paid 17-year-old Karima El Mahroug, a Moroccan belly dancer known as “Ruby the Heart-stealer”, for sex. Though the age of consent in Italy is 14, it is illegal to pay for sex with anyone under the age of 18. He is also charged with perverting the course of justice after securing her release from prison on charges of theft, by stating incorrectly that she was a relation of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
“Love him or hate him Berlusconi is still a key cultural figure in Italy,” restaurant owner Charlie Gilkes said in City AM.
Alastair Foster, writing in The Evening Standard noted, “[F]or most world leaders, having a restaurant themed in your honour would be something to be proud of. But Silvio Berlusconi probably won’t be too pleased.” The restaurant, which includes a replica of the Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, “focuses on his character for all the wrong reasons.” City AM interviewed owner Gilkes, who said of Bunga Bunga London, “We wanted to create a place that is fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously – we came up with so many names that we didn’t feel fully conveyed this idea and that made us sound like any other serious Italian restaurant in London.”
No word yet on how Prime Minister Bunga Bunga feels about the new restaurant.
Bunga Bunga is now open for business on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays this August.
From hit song to pizzeria, “bunga bunga” is the gift that keeps on giving:
