Italian restaurant chain Spaghetti House is to close its Knightsbridge branch later this year, after 46 years’ trading.
Along with the other shops and flats in the building, the business has been obliged to relinquish its lease after landlord Cheval Property Holding announced that it would redevelop the whole block.
The restaurant, at 77 Knightsbridge, was the scene of a five-day “siege” in 1975 after an attempted armed robbery at the restaurant where staff where held as hostages.
The site also played host to Spaghetti House’s head office for a spell, after it outgrew its first premises in 1968. The head office remained above the restaurant on the first floor until 1984 when the upper floors of the building were turned into flats.
Spaghetti House, which has 11 restaurants and celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2015, said it was now seeking other sites in Knightsbridge and the surrounding areas.
Spaghetti House chief executive and managing director Luigi Lavarini (pictured), son of the founder, said: “Obviously this is not a happy time for us, there is no denying that, as we lose not only a very successful branch, but one we are particularly fond of because of its rich history. However it is also a time to celebrate an incredible 46 years of business in Knightsbridge, something that arguably very few restaurants can do.”
He added: “Over the years customers have become friends, we will not lose them altogether because they will visit our nearby branches, whilst we continue to look for an alternative location in the area.”
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