Love Island star Mike Thalassitis’ restaurant opens this weekend with proceeds being donated to mental health charity

Reality star Mike Thalassitis’ restaurant, The Skillet, is opening to the public this weekend “in his honour”, six weeks after his death.

Thalassitis, who found fame on Love Island in 2017, was found dead at the age of 26 in a north London park on 16 March 2019. Police confirmed at the time that his death was not treated as suspicious.

The reality star had been due to open The Skillet in Loughton, Essex, with his business partner Scott Nielson.

However, following the news of Thalassitis’ death, the restaurant confirmed it would postpone opening until those involved with the company “were ready”.

On Tuesday, the restaurant has announced it will open its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday 27 April and that it will be donating all drink proceeds taken over the weekend to mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).

“On Saturday 27th April, The Skillet will be opening its doors to welcome the public from 8am-5pm, in honour of Mike Thalassitis,” a post on The Skillet’s Instagram account reads.

“In special tribute to Mike, all drink proceeds over launch weekend will be donated to the mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) to build awareness of depression in young men and develop practical resources to support those suffering.

“Mike worked extremely hard on this launch. He was passionate about cooking and it was his dream to one day open a restaurant.”

The post has since received more than 1,500 likes and hundreds of comments from fans wishing the restaurant luck for its opening weekend.

“Amazing!! Well done, I’m sure Mike will be there in spirit with u all [sic],” one person wrote.

Another added: “Good luck! Lovely thing to do.”

On Tuesday, Thalassitis’ friend Montana Brown, who was a fellow contestant on Love Island, posted a lengthy Instagram stories about the news of the opening and encouraged fans to attend.

“The Skillet is finally opening which is really exciting,” Brown said in the videos.

“It is finally completed and ready to rumble... I will be down there, I'm sure there will be some familiar faces. I can’t wait for all of you guys to see the hard work him and Scott have put into it.

“I think it’s important to say that Mike worked so hard on The Skillet. He put his heart and soul into it, it was his little project. He loves cooking and he’s very good at cooking.

“I’m so proud of them both for all of their hard work.”

Brown attended Thalassitis’ funeral at Christ Church in Southgate, North London, on 5 April alongside the reality star’s family.

Love Island host Caroline Flack, The Only Way Is Essex's Liam Gatsby and former I'm A Celebrity contestant Rebecca Vardy were also in attendance.

For confidential support with mental health or suicidal feelings, you can contact The Samaritans on their free, 24-hour phone support by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.