Famed Restaurateur Russell Norman was married to his spouse Jules McNally for years and the couple are parents to three kids. Details about his love life and family explored.
Award-winning chef and restaurant owner Russell Norman, who invented the small plates concept, has tragically died at the age of 57.
His tragic death comes weeks after he published his fourth cookbook. He helped and mentored other restaurant owners by releasing cookbooks.
Per details about his death, the BBC Star who founded SPUNTINO and BRUTTO restaurants died surrounded by family and friends Thursday when he died in hospital.
The restaurant owner was beloved by fans and leaves behind his wife Jules McNally and their children. Here’s everything we know about his family.
Who is Chef Russell Norman’s wife Jules?
Before Russell Norman died at age 57, he was reportedly married once.
His wife for decades was a woman named Jules McNally.
Norman and McNally’s love story, including how they met, when and where they held their wedding ceremony, and how long they were together, was never documented online.
While Russell was best known as a restauranteur who founded several big companies, his wife’s profession is not known.
She had two kids with Norman before he passed.
Jules McNally is known to live a private life, hence, not much else is known about her.
She previously opened up about their relationship in an interview with a media outlet.
Speaking to The Independent in 2012, she said: “Unsurprisingly, food has always played an important part in our relationship.
“Russell wooed me with lovingly made dishes such as pea and mint risotto and I, then, was too intimidated to cook for him for two years.
“Before marriage and babies, on our frequent trips to Venice, we’d drift around the bacari scoffing baccala mantecato (which still tastes of romance to me) and getting rather smiley on prosecco and negroni.
“We’d talk about how great it’d be to eat and drink like that back home.”
She added: “Our date nights are precious and when we eat out in others people’s restaurants I’ve learned to make sure Russell sits facing the wall to prevent him doing his restaurant analysis over my shoulder.
“We share a love of unfussy food and are guilty of terrible inverse snobbery about effortful cooking – anything presented as a tower or with a foam.”
Before Jules, Norman was in a relationship with his ex-partner whose name is unknown. The former couple dated and welcomed his first child with her.
Did Russell Norman have any children?
Restaurateur Russell Norman received his biggest blessing, thus, being a father, before he died.
He had three children – a son and two daughters.
He shares his kids with two women; his first with his ex-partner from a previous relationship and his last two girls with his wife, Jules McNally.
The names of his children are Ollie, Martha, and Mabel.
Russell, who was big on family cooking, said in 2018 that baking potatoes was one of his favorite foods to prepare with his family.
“We’ll have tinned tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise on one half and baked beans on the other. If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll make a fancy coleslaw,” he told the Guardian.
He also said that “the 95-year-old Italian granny” was a big inspiration behind some of his dishes.
In 2021, Russell founded the restaurant Trattoria BRUTTO and soon had a long waiting list of customers wanting to dine there.
It’s understood that his business will still run but this time under the custodianship of his son Ollie, along with his wife Jules.
The award-winning chef started the Polpo chain of restaurants.
He also launched spin-offs Spuntino and Polpetto.
Who was Russell Norman and how did he die?
Russell was best known for starting the Polpo chain of restaurants.
He also is responsible for their spin-offs Spuntino and Polpetto.
Russell made waves in the London restaurant scene by inventing the concept of small plates, as well as re-popularising the classic Negroni.
Brutto, his current restaurant, will remain open under the custodianship of his son Ollie, along with Jules.
On November 24, 2023, it was revealed Norman had sadly passed away after a short health battle.
It is reported his family were with him when he died.
His business partner Richard Beatty, who co-founded restaurants Spuntino and Polpo with Russell, paid tribute to his “best friend”.
He 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.
“Russell is survived by his wife and three children, I ask that you respect the privacy of his family, friends and colleagues at this time.”