Success for North East Italian restaurant leads to six-figure Newcastle expansion

The success of a Washington based Italian restaurant has led to the owners taking over a new site in Newcastle.

Novellos, based at New Road, Washington, opened its doors in March last year and has been a huge hit since day one. And that has given the team behind it the confidence to take over the former San Lorenzo restaurant at Gosforth High Street, as part of its expansion plans.

Around £100k is being spent on giving the restaurant a refurbishment, with plans to be open in November with a new name and a new look.

Novellos was launched as a joint venture between chef Dean Lathbury and experienced restaurant manager, Dorian Koti, who had previously been involved in a number of ventures, including setting up their own restaurant in Durham.

The two men reunited last year to open Novellos, which has proved hugely popular with diners from around the immediate area and beyond. The combination of Italian pizza and pasta favourites with ‘some unique twists’ as well as more substantial main courses has proved a winning combination and one the team now intend to replicate in Gosforth.

The restaurant has stood empty since San Lorenzo shut its doors in April, with the previous owners’ company going into liquidation in August.

Dorian commented: “We are delighted to be extending the Novellos brand into this fantastic site in Gosforth. We know it’s a busy location and we are sure the restaurant will be as popular in Newcastle as it is in Washington.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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