A popular Italian restaurant which has hosted many top celebrities over the past 40 years has announced that it is relocating.
Roberto’s Pizza House will close at its current base in Pall Mall, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, within the next few weeks and has a new venue lined up in nearby Piccadilly.
The move is being made because the restaurant’s landlord has planning permission secured to change the use of the building and create residential accommodation in part of it.
The new venue used to be home to café bar The Quarter before it shut two years ago.
So far, more than £50,000 has been spent on refurbishing it.
Co-owner John McCusker told Daily Focus that the team are sad to be leaving the business’s home of 44 years, but he believes exciting times are around the corner.
He said: “We are gutted to be leaving but there is nothing we can do about the situation.
“We are pleased to be staying close by, in fact we wouldn’t have continued if we couldn’t have done that.
“Our business has thrived on being so close to the old Theatre Royal and now The Regent and we love welcoming theatregoers to Roberto’s when they are in town.”
While the current Roberto’s can seat 75 people at any one time, the new place will accommodate 90 diners with the ability to have outside dining as well.
The restaurant’s team of 13 will move to the new venue with another two or three likely to be recruited to allow it to open at lunchtimes, which it doesn’t currently do.
John said: “It is a difficult industry to be in, but we work hard and since offering deliveries, we have stayed in a good position.
“While we cannot replicate the current Roberto’s, we are trying to make the new building feel as much like it as possible.
“It will be done in the same style, but changes include a larger pizza bar.
“We’d like to thank our customers for supporting us over the years and we hope they will follow us to the new building so that we can continue long into the future.”
As well as attracting visitors to the theatre, the family-run restaurant opened by Roberto Panichi has also welcomed many celebrities.
Names include Les Dennis, Vince Hill, Derren Brown, Paddy McGuinness, Ant and Dec and Gordon Banks.
It is also a favourite spot for entertainer Jonny Wilkes who visits during pantomime season and often gives the restaurant a shout-out during the show itself.
John added: “I have met a few dozen celebrities during my time at Roberto’s – and there was a fair few through the door before I arrived.
“It is a testament to the hard work put in by Roberto and his wife and it both thrills and shocks me that so many people choose to eat at Roberto’s time and time again.”
