The new owner of long-established Gosforth restaurant San Lorenzo says he is hoping to restore its glory days after saving it from administration.
The restaurant’s parent company Lorenzo (North East) has gone into administration, causing the closure of its Washington site.
But the Gosforth restaurant and a former Pizza Express which is undergoing refurbishment have been bought by barrister and long-term customer Geoff Knowles.
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The move saves 15 jobs at the site.
Mr Knowles said: “San Lorenzo has been a part of Gosforth restaurant culture forever. When my kids were growing up, everybody went there.
“The idea is to bring it back to its greater days. We’ve got a good team in there. It’s a great opportunity to breathe a bit of fire and life back into an old favourite.”
Mr Knowles said he hoped to bring back features such as make-your-own pizzas for kids and possibly introduce live music in the future.
He added: “Sundays on the High Street are very quiet, but with good Sunday lunch fare it can be a standout place. Next door in The Lounge is going to be a different offering with tapas and high end cocktails.”
The Lounge is expected to open next week, subject to licensing paperwork.
Last week, business recovery firm FRP Advisory was appointed as administrators to Lorenzo (North East) Limited, the company which ran both the Gosforth and Washington restaurants.
FRP says the business had encountered difficulties as a result of Covid restrictions hampering trade and staffing challenges, including the ability to recruit and retain workers – a problem reported across the hospitality industry.
In 2018, following a takeover of the Casa San Lorenzo business from its founders, Lorenzo (North East) Limited announced it would expand the Gosforth and Washington restaurants with an £500,000 investment.
