close
close
numb-two

Usain Bolt stuns guests when, for a unique reason, he drops by for a £35 fish dinner at a WIGAN restaurant with the Premier League cult hero

Heory
Usain Bolt stuns guests when, for a unique reason, he drops by for a £35 fish dinner at a WIGAN restaurant with the Premier League cult hero

  • Usain Bolt is becoming a regular at La Casa restaurant and bar near Wigan
  • The venue hosted, among others: Sir Alex Ferguson and Tommy Fury
  • Mail Sport reveals exactly what Bolt ate while celebrating the special occasion

Author: Luke Power

Published: | Updated:

Can you keep up with the fastest man in the world at the table?

Guests were left speechless at a posh restaurant near Wigan when they found themselves queuing next to Usain Bolt.

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist, 38, tucked into a £35 fish dinner at La Casa Restaurant & Bar in Astley to celebrate the Premier League cult hero’s birthday.

La Casa has hosted sports names such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Tommy Fury, and it looks like Bolt is returning to the restaurant for the third time this year.

Bolt started with a dish of deep-fried calamari for £11.55, followed by sea bass cutlets for £23.50 served with mussels in a white wine sauce.

Usain Bolt stunned guests and staff when he arrived at La Casa near Wigan for a fish dinner

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist was there to celebrate Bolton Wanderers legend Ricardo Gardner’s 46th birthday

Bolt had calamari for £11.55 and sea bass for £23.50 served with mussels in white wine sauce

Along with about 12 other people, Bolt was there to celebrate the 46th birthday of his fellow Jamaican Ricardo Gardner.

The restaurant was open two hours longer than usual, which was a surprise to fans.

Gardner made 251 Premier League appearances for Bolton Wanderers, serving the club between 1998 and 2012. In total, he made 397 appearances for the team over 14 years.

At the time, he was the second-longest-serving foreigner in Premier League history, beaten only by goalkeeper and teammate Jussi Jaaskelainen. Gardner also played for Harbor View in Jamaica and Preston North End.

Even though it was his big day, Bolt was the center of attention and was photographed smiling with staff in front of a floral, neon-lit wall display.

“It’s crazy, he’s a really ‘big’ guy,” said restaurant manager Gianluca.

One of the remaining managers, Pietro Garrafa, told the Manchester Evening News: “I only started a week ago but I know we have a lot of celebrities coming because our food is so authentic.

“I didn’t take the booking but I was shocked to see him when he came in. Everyone asked for photos and he (Bolt) and Ricardo were great. There was a family of fans who were also eating there and Ricardo took a photo and I talked to them.

La Casa has hosted names such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Tommy Fury

Bolt still holds the 100m, 200m and 4x100m records he set during his unparalleled career

Gardner played 397 times for Bolton in 14 years, most of them in the Premier League

“Bolt was very nice and for them the restaurant was open until midnight (instead of 10 p.m.). We liked it very much.”

The restaurant also posted the following: “We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Usain Bolt back to La Casa!

“It’s always a pleasure to serve the fastest man in the world, where great food meets great company.”