East Kilbride Tony Macaroni restaurant gives schoolboy birthday bash to remember thanks to letter to First Minister

A schoolboy desperate to tuck into his favourite dish at Tony Macaroni's in East Kilbride finally got his wish as restaurants welcomed customers once again this week.

But Zac Nugent may have had a hand in the reopening after he sent a handwritten letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pleading with he to re-open his favourite restaurant as he was really missing their pizza and spaghetti bolognese.

His dad, Paul, subsequently sent the note to Ms Sturgeon who kindly replied assuring Zac that, if people continued to follow the guidelines, then restaurants including Tony Macaroni could start to open again soon.

And when they were made aware of the letter, the team at Tony Macaroni also responded to Zac with a £200 voucher for him and his family to spend once their doors reopened.

Zac loves Toni Macaroni in East Kilbride (EKN)

But little couldn't Zac have dreamed that restaurants across the country would indeed be opening again on Wednesday –  which happened to be his his 11th birthday!

Deputy Presiding Officer and East Kilbride MSP, Linda Fabiani, represented the First Minister as she and the staff at the Hairmyres eatery welcomed Zac and his family into the restaurant as VIP guests and treat them to their first meal out since lockdown.

Paul told the East Kilbride News: “Zac wrote this letter just as part of his home schooling, not thinking for one minute it would lead to this. 

"We also thank his schoolteacher because without her, Zac would not have written the letter. 

"This is going to be a birthday to remember especially after months of lockdown.  We are overwhelmed at the response Zac has received to this and Tony Macaroni’s generosity.”

Linda Fabiani MSP represented the First Minister (EKN)

Guiseppe Marini, owner of Tony Macaroni added: “We were so touched when we learned of Zac’s letter and were also delighted that the First Minister took the time to reply to him.

"All of the Tony Macaroni family looked forward to welcoming the Nugent family back into the restaurant and I personally promised Zac that we would make his birthday extra special and he can have as much of his favourite pizza and Spaghetti Bolognese as he wants!”