Player Sponsor Feature: O’Oliviero

• 7 Feb 2025
• News

From the history of the business to their future goals and aspirations, get to know O'Olivieo who have this season sponsored Scotland international back-three flyer, Harry Paterson.

About O’Oliviero

Can you tell us a bit about the history of O’Oliviero?

Paul and Caitriona have owned Mammas Pizza since 2003 and when Gennaros came on the market in 2015 we decided it was time to take the plunge and expand up the street.

O’Oliviero means the family of Oliver in Italian. This seemed a fitting name as our son is called Oliver (I think he is called all sorts of things at Edinburgh Rugby, Duncs seeming to be the most common) and our daughter Orlaith is always called O.

We took over from an Edinburgh Italian family and decided to try and go back to basics. Reducing the menu from over 140 dishes down to 40 and changing the interiors to be more subtle.

What separates O’Oliviero from other Italians in Edinburgh?

Everything is made freshly, onsite, we are in a great location for alfresco dining during the summer, private back room that can hold about 45 people.

Situated below the castle in the Grassmarket. Probably the only Italian proudly displaying Edinburgh Rugby jerseys.

Sponsorship of Harry Paterson

Why did you choose to sponsor Harry Patterson?

Since our son took up the sport our passion for rugby has grown. I still go and watch some of his old school big matches and we sponsor a player at Edinburgh University womens team.  So I watch as many of their games as I can.

Harry Paterson is an enormous talent who will go far, supporting new talent is such a privilege.

What do you admire about Harry as a player and individual?

Harry is a lovely polite young man who doesn’t look out of place in a Scotland jersey. Great speed and great under the high ball

How does this sponsorship align with business values and goals?

Edinburgh Rugby does its best to develop new talent into national talent. We try to develop young kids with the life skills to enable for them to succeed in their chosen fields.

Or we try to develop those who want to make hospitality their career into the best possible version of themselves. (even though that usually means that at somepoint they outgrow us)

What benefits do you hope to see from sponsoring Harry Paterson?

We hope to get him into the restaurant train him on making a pizza and get him to design and name his own. With £1 of each pizza sold going to Edinburgh Rugby’s Official Charity Partner, It’s Good 2 Give.

How has this sponsorship helped raise awareness of your restaurant?

I think all the players know us and regularly visit. We hope by the sponsorship we will attract more fans

Future Goals and Aspirations

What are the future goals and aspirations of O’Oliviero?

Would love to be the pre or post destination for rugby supporters on match days. This has been the case with our sister restaurant Mammas Pizza on Scotland days.

Most bookings on these days are repeat rugby fans. Not just Scottish ones. There is nothing better than dissecting a match with others fans after a great game.

How do you see the partnership with Edinburgh Rugby evolving in the coming years?

Hopefully we can continue to sponsor up and coming new talent. I would really like to sponsor our son. (It’s the only way I will get a signed jersey off him for the restaurant wall, but he wont allow it!)