A Brighton restaurant has been put up for sale less than a year after it opened and immediately got told to make major improvements by a hygiene inspector.
Da Vinci Italian restaurant in London Road was inspected by Brighton and Hove City Council just two weeks after it opened in January this year.
The inspector gave it one star, rating food hygiene and safety as poor and said she had little confidence in management – although structural compliance was rated fair.
Owner Alfredo Trosino, who also owns Bella Napoli in Brighton Marina, said he is putting the leasehold up for sale as he nears retirement, and it’s available at £65,000 with “all offers invited for a quick sale”.
He said: “I am looking to scale down my involvement in the restaurant trade as I approach my 70th!”
The restaurant is being sold by Fleurets, who are marketing it as being in the heart of the London Road revival, citing Meat Liquor, Hare & Hounds, Shuffle Bar & Kitchen and the HiSbe ethical supermarket.
It says: “The area has a high footfall and there are few, if any, licensed premises available in this area, making it a very interesting prospect for a variety of style of operations.”
Kate Dowd from Fleurets added: “Our clients have developed a servery and prep area on the ground floor with extraction but this could be removed to make way for extra covers providing approximately 80 covers on the ground floor level, as the first floor catering kitchen can be used in its place.”
The property was recently let on a 10 year lease from a private landlord, free from all ties and with a break at year five for the tenant if required.
Before it was taken over by Mr Trosino, it was a branch of Forfars.
