Exclusive: Elliott Wright reveals why he's really selling his €7.5m Spanish restaurant loved by celebs following arson attack and tragic death liennhi
Elliott Wright has told the Daily Mail why he's really selling his €7.5m Spanish restaurant and returning to the UK.
Despite undergoing an entire rebrand earlier this year and recovering the building from a devastating arson attack four years ago, Elliott is taking restaurant and entertainment spot Olivia's La Cala to auction, with bids starting at €7.5million (£6.5million).
The venue, which has been a reality star hotspot for some time, has gone through its fair share of troubles, with the establishment being attacked by graffiti vandals shortly after a bouncer was killed there two years ago.
The former TOWIE star, 45, has now opened up about the difficulties of running a business, but ultimately said, 'the good times outweighed the bad'.
He explained: 'Businesses are hard to run; it is not easy. It looks glamorous, but a lot of work goes into it. You are working day and night. Every business has difficulties.
'You go through times in your personal life and in business where times are tough, but you have to take the rough with the smooth. If you want smooth sailing, then don't own your own business.
Elliott Wright has told Daily Mail why he's really selling his €7.5m Spanish restaurant and returning to the UK, as he admitted he has experienced 'difficulties'
The former TOWIE star, 45, (pictured with wife Sadie) has now opened up about the difficulties of running a business, but ultimately said, 'the good times outweighed the bad'
'All businesses have times of hardship and times that are good, but you bounce back from those things, and we've always bounced back.
'Olivia's is a party restaurant. It's a fun place to be. You can't sit there and ponder on what's going on in the past. You do have bad times, but the good times outweigh the bad. And with Olivia's, it massively outweighs it.
'None of that has really played a part in it. Whatever business you're going to go into, you're gonna go through it. It's part and parcel of being a business owner.'
Elliott confirmed the news that he is selling the hotspot after a decade so that he can be near his older children, Elliott Jr, 18, and Olivia, 16, who he revealed did not want to carry on the restaurant's legacy despite his wishes.
The restaurateur has been married to Sadie Wright since 2017, and they share three children: Billy, six, John, two, and Dolly, three months.
He explained: 'I'm basically basing myself out in Spain for a lifestyle choice over there that the children don't wanna be a part of. And I don't want to split my kids up.
'Everyone has dreams, and fundamentally, I thought that they'd come over and take over, so that I could step back and watch them flourish and show them how to do it.
'I would have liked to have shown my kids how to be successful at it, but you can't force your dreams onto your children. It was a lovely dream, but a pipe dream, and it wasn't one that they wanted to do.
He revealed he is returning to the UK to be with family. He is father to Olivia, 16, (left) and Elliott Jr, 18, (right) from a previous relationship and shares three kids with wife Sadie
Olivia's has been a reality star hotspot for some time, with Elliott's pal and former TOWIE co-star James 'Arg' Argent (pictured with Love Island star Amy Hart in 2023) holding residencies
Pop star Jessie J was also a fan of the venue (pictured with Elliott and Sadie in 2019)
'There's no sad feelings at all about it. I'm very content, and I'm going to be closer to my children. The most important thing for me is spending time with the kids.'
Elliott added that he plans on still owning property and has business opportunities in the UK that he is excited to explore.
The sale will include the freehold beachfront property, the trading business, and the Olivia’s La Cala brand and trademark. Bidding is scheduled to open December 5.
Olivia's has been a reality star hotspot for some time, with Elliott's pal and former TOWIE co-star James 'Arg' Argent holding residencies.
In 2021, Olivia's was victim to an arson attack, after which Elliott condemned the 'scumbag' responsible for the blaze which gutted the Costa del Sol restaurant.
At the time, in a video uploaded online, the devastated star walked around his restaurant, which has been completely destroyed by the fire, before pledging that he would have it reopened.
He said: 'So probably one of my worst videos I've ever made. My beautiful restaurant, my dream that I always dreamt of having, that I built six years ago, that was still work in progress, has been completely destroyed, absolutely destroyed...
'Devastated. And I can say now that it is arson. Someone's come and took my whole dream away, for whatever reason I'll never know, because I don't have any enemies as far as I'm aware, I didn't think I did..
'Whether it's jealousy or competition, it doesn't really matter.'
The plan to be closer to family comes in the wake of a slew of tragedies, including suffering a miscarriage, Olivia's' arson attack and losing his dad to Coronavirus.
Sadie and Elliott tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their first son together in 2019
Eliott and Sadie welcomed daughter Dolly in August this year
He lost his father Edward Wright in March 2021, who died at the age of 66 following an eight-week battle with Covid.
Elliott shared the news on Instagram and wrote: 'It is with heart wrenching regret, that I have to post this post.
'My father Edward George Wright passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the 02.03.2021 after bravely fighting Covid for 8 weeks…
'For those who knew my father, you know what a great man he was, always smiling, always humble, always happy, despite the fact in his later years he bravely fought prostate cancer...
'To Dad, what can I say that you don’t already know in heaven, you are and will always be my rock, my best friend, the man who taught me to always be a gentleman, to put family first!'
‘You’ve been coming here your entire life…’: Tess Daly melts hearts as she poses beside stunning daughter Phoebe, 21, in the Strictly studio — the proud mum shares emotional tribute after Halloween special amid her shock exit from the BBC show… - suong
TESS Daly has posed beside her stunning daughter Phoebe, 21, in the Strictly studio and paid a sweet tribute after the Halloween special.
Tess and Claudia Winkleman recently announced they had quit the show with a joint clip on Instagram.
Taking to Instagram, Tess shared a gorgeous snap with her daughter, who she shares with TV and
The Strictly host revealed Phoebe, who looks so much like her mum, had been coming to the studio for her entire life.
In the photo, Tess was still wearing her black velvet ruched mini-dress that she’d worn for Strictly’s Halloween week reports the Mail.
While Phoebe looked beautiful in a sequinned burgundy dress adorned with spaghetti straps.
Tess wrote: “Such a treat having you at the show last night @phoebeekay can’t believe you’ve been coming for 21 years; your entire life.
Phoebe is a film production student who splits her time between London and Dubai.
Earlier this month, Phoebe stunned as she celebrated her 21st birthday, posing with her parents in a glam silver dress.
Radio 2 host Vernon, took to Instagram to share a series of snaps of Phoebe as she hit the milestone.
The proud dad wrote alongside his upload: “HAPPYBIRTHDAY @phoebeekay 21Today!! The celebrations are gonna be epic!! You’re the best any parent could ask for.”
Tess and Vernon, who have been married for 22 years, are also parents to 16-year-old daughter Amber.
Amber hit her own big milestone in May, with Tess sharing a sweet tribute to her youngest on social media at the time.
She wrote: “Cannot believe our baby girl turns 16 today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER.”
It comes after The Sun revealed the real reason behind Tess and Claudia’s shock departure from the BBC show.
BBC bosses have been blindsided by their departure, with only a small number of people in the TV industry made aware of their intentions.
It’s understood they secretly filmed the exit video weeks ago — and released it mid-series so as not to overshadow the eventual winner.
Their last show will be on Christmas Day.
A source said: “Claudia and Tess have known they were leaving Strictly since last year. They felt like it was their time to go.
“They discussed this privately and agreed they would walk away together, but kept it firmly under wraps.”
Their exit comes after the BBC show was hit by a string of recent scandals involving its professional dancers and behind-the-scenes conduct.
Plummeting viewing figures and “underwhelming” line-ups even prompted betting giants to offer odds earlier this year on this being the show’s final outing.
The two made history as primetime television’s first female presenting duo when they paired up to co-host the show in 2014.
Both had been part of Strictly since 2004, Tess hosting the main show with Bruce Forsyth and Claudia on spin-off It Takes Two.
