Puccini has welcomed football stars Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville (Image: Google Street View)
A restaurant loved by sports stars and celebrities has announced its closure after more than 40 years. Italian eatery Puccini has been a popular spot with former footballers including Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, who even had a dish named after him – Penne alla Neville.
Sylvester Stallone dined at the restaurant in Swinton, Greater Manchester, during a break from filming a Warburtons ad in Bolton in 2015. Other famous faces to have dined there include former prime minister Lord David Cameron, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sven-Goran Eriksson and boxers Joe Fraser and Roberto Duran.
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Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have eaten at the venue (Image: Getty)
The restaurant opened in 1982 and since 1990 was run by Michele Pucci. He told the Manchester Evening News he had no choice but to close for good.
Mr Pucci, 65, said rising costs, difficulties finding trained staff and the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic had all hit trade. He said: “Trade is dying. Swinton is dying and we’re dying in Swinton. I have tried really hard to keep it going, but the council is doing nothing to support local businesses and the landlord isn’t interested.”
The businessman said the eatery won’t reopen after a current three week holiday. He thanked customers for their support and for helping the business keep going for so long. Mr Pucci said the local area has deteriorated, parking is “very difficult” and older regulars have passed away as younger people eat out at newer venues.
He added: “We do still have our loyal customers and if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have been here for so long, but it’s not enough to keep going. Sometimes at weekends it’s still busy but in the week it’s quiet and I still have to pay for staff.”
Sylvester Stallone ate at the restaurant during a break in filming a Warburtons ad (Image: Getty)
Mr Pucci said after the pandemic many people found better paid jobs with more sociable hours outside the hospitality industry.
He said the Labour Government’s increasing of employers’ National Insurance contributions, VAT, rent, business rates, energy costs, wages and suppliers’ demands had also taken their toll.
News of the closure comes after UK Hospitality warned over 2,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels could shut their doors in 2026 unless the Government makes sector-wide changes to “staggering” incoming business rate increases.
The trade body laid bare the toll that April 1 rises to property taxes will mean for hospitality companies. It estimates that 2,076 firms could close as a result, with 293 restaurants, 574 hotels and 540 pubs at risk of being forced to shut.
It said this is equivalent to six hospitality venues closing every day. The Government is expected to announce a package of changes within days to help pubs amid outcry over the impact of rate hikes on the sector, marking a major U-turn on its November 26 budget plans.
But UK Hospitality chairwoman Kate Nicholls said this needs to be extended to hotels and restaurants, which are also facing significant hikes.
On the demise of his business, Mr Pucci said: “This is our little kingdom and it’s failing. I’m sad we have to close but it is now affecting my health. For the last year and a half I have been working 60-70 hours a week, six days a week. Money comes and goes but I have to look after my health.”
About 15 full and part time roles at the eatery will be affected by the closure. Mr Pucci said he will help his wife launch her own coffee shop and wine bar in a back-seat role.
A Salford Council spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News Swinton has many strengths, but as with other towns, it needs investment and regeneration to realise its potential.
