The owners of a Bristol restaurant threatened with eviction after 52 years have lost their appeal against developers but say they will continue to fight the decision.
Isabella Ricci owns Vincenzo’s Pizza House on Park Street with her brothers Rafaele and Giuseppe, all of them born and bred Bristolians.
The restaurant was opened in 1970 by their Sicilian parents Vincenzo and Teresa, but the building’s owners, Urbina, have submitted plans to create 16 student flats in its place, which would force the popular family-run Italian restaurant to close.
READ MORE: Restaurant that opened last year launches survival appeal
The Ricci family appealed against the planning decision but the judge has now approved the development.
Isabella said: “I was surprised by the judge’s decision and we’re obviously going to appeal and carry on fighting it - this is our livelihood at stake here.
“We’ll still be here for a while longer because the appeal will take some time and we’ll see if we can get our views across.
“I wasn’t given the opportunity to even put my views forward when they were granted permission. This might go on for a long time now.”
Before the judge’s decision, a petition to save Vincenzo’s attracted 2,400 signatures lending support to the restaurant.
For Isabella and her brothers, the possible closure of the restaurant would mean the end of an era for the family, who have worked at the site for more than half a century.
As small children, Isabella, Rafaele and Giuseppe used to sleep on flour sacks in the warmth under the pizza oven when their parents were running the restaurant.
“We grew up in the restaurant since we were babies, it’s our home as well as our business,” says Isabella.
“I don’t want to lose this place because it will bankrupt me. It will put me on the streets basically.”
David Pigott of building owners Urbina said: “These matters are incredibly complicated, slow and expensive for all parties involved.
“We don’t know what the timescales are likely to be at this stage as it will depend on whether the Court allows the appeal and if the tenant wishes to contest the redevelopment of the site if they are unsuccessful.”
The restaurant will continue to trade after Christmas and will be back open on December 27.
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