Hollywood star Stephen Graham and his wife Hannah Walters chose Il Capitano's, a restaurant in Waterloo, Sefton, for a private celebration following the premiere of her new film, leaving the owners stunned by the unexpected booking.
Jay Wilson and Eve Smith, who run the venue, said they will “never take it for granted” as a host of famous faces continue to turn up at their establishment. The couple spoke to the ECHO about what they described as a “whirlwind” evening.
A Private Celebration After the Premiere
Hannah attended the premiere of Amazing Grace on Thursday, October 29, alongside Stephen and their children, Grace and Alfie. The film stars Hannah Walters and Daniel P. Lewis in a drama that promotes a message on mental health awareness and reaching out. Hannah plays crisis helpline volunteer, Grace, who forms an unexpected bond over the phone with Walter, a man struggling with childhood trauma, addiction and isolation.
Other guests at the premiere included This City Is Ours star James Nelson-Joyce, Sonny Walker, Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, BAFTA-winning actress Christine Tremarco and former Emmerdale star Charley Webb.
Jay and Eve said they were contacted by someone from the Plaza to ask if they could host the group after the world premiere. Eve, a 28-year-old mum-of-two, said: “We have a really good relationship with The Plaza. We were hopeful something might happen, but obviously you don't want to push these things.”
Keeping the Evening Under Wraps
The restaurant kept the arrangements private to ensure the actors could enjoy their evening away from the attention surrounding the premiere. Jay, 43, said: “It was a real whirlwind, but it's always great when The Plaza and our restaurant can come together. For a Liverpool actor to have their premiere at The Plaza and then come back to a local restaurant afterwards was just lovely. There was a real sense of community about the whole evening.”
He added: “We made sure everything was kept private so they could really enjoy themselves. There were no fans waiting outside, and we didn't tell any of our customers what was happening that day. We understand how important it was for them to have that time together and enjoy the evening without any attention. We didn't want it to become about everyone else. It was their night to enjoy.”
A Down-to-Earth Star Supporting Local Businesses
Stephen had reportedly stayed in Waterloo for a couple of nights. He visited Mersey Sauna on Thursday morning before heading to Il Capitano's that evening. He also filmed a short video near Waterloo Town Hall, highlighting several local businesses and giving Merchant Taylors' School a shout-out.
Eve said: “It just goes to show how down to earth he is and how much he wants to support local businesses. It's always good to get our name out there, but when it's a well-known Liverpool actor, what more could you ask for? It's just amazing for us, and the fact they chose us makes it even more special. They could have gone anywhere, travelled into the city centre or chosen somewhere else, but they chose the little Italian restaurant down the road. We would never take that for granted.”
A Growing List of Famous Visitors
This is not the first time Il Capitano's has welcomed a familiar face. The owners revealed that Everton player Merlin Röhl and former Liverpool star Sammy Lee had both visited on the same Saturday evening a couple of weeks before the premiere. Last December, they also hosted Hugo Ekitike.
Despite the growing list of famous visitors, the couple insist their main aim remains to make the restaurant a welcoming place for local people. Having opened around 14 months ago, the business has quickly established itself as a popular spot in Waterloo.
Jay said: “The evenings couldn't really be any busier. The daytime trade is still a work in progress, but ultimately we just want to be a hub for the community. We live in Waterloo. We've built our lives around the restaurant, and our children go to local schools too. I think what people love about the business is that it's not an old-school Italian trattoria. We've got disco music playing, a bar next door with a vinyl DJ, and a buzzing atmosphere. It's busy, loud and vibrant. It's got a really cosmopolitan feel without having to leave the suburbs.”
