An Italian restaurant in London has posted a scathing attack on local residents, after closing suddenly this week.
Don Ciccio Osteria Italiana & Pizzeria in Highgate closed this week after six years, prompting owner Marco Claudio Valente to take a parting shot at the Highgate community for ‘never supporting us’.
In a post entitled ‘The Farewell’, Valente goes on to thank his staff for ‘enduring the humiliation of entire evenings with an empty dining room’.
He continues: ‘To the community of Highgate and its neighbours - thank you for never supporting us, not even once. To those we served during lockdown, when we were the only restaurant open, thank you for never visiting us once the pandemic ended. To those who lived a few doors away yet ordered delivery from somewhere else - thank you for your commitment to distance. In short: thank you all for supporting us so perfectly.’
He finishes: ‘WE MAY BE THE FIRST ITALIAN RESTAURANT TO CLOSE… not for bad food, bad reviews, or bad luck - but for the sheer indifference of our neighbours.’
Although the post is addressed to the local community, Valente also takes aim at The Highgate Society, who he claims never responded to his requests for collaboration. Andrew Sulston, Chair of the Highgate Society, in reply, said to local publication Ham & High: ‘We are always very sorry when any local business closes.
‘Because Highgate Society has no paid staff and all our activities are run by volunteers, we unfortunately cannot always follow up on all requests.’
Don Ciccio will doubtless be the last restaurant to close this year, as Britain’s hospitality sector continues to struggle with rising costs and labour shortages, but few will go out with quite the same bang.
Keep up to date with all the latest restaurant news from around the UK with the SquareMeal Newsletter - delivered to your inbox every Friday. Subscribe to our newsletter right here!
![Rewards banner]()