Owners of Ital, in Bolton Road, put restaurant up for rent after opening new site in Greengates

The Ital restaurant in Bolton Road has been shut since arsonists set a fire in the conservatory in September 2016, causing some fire damage and smoke damage throughout the building.

Now, after opening a new restaurant elsewhere in the district last year, the family-owned building is being offered to let for around £32,000 a year.

The listing, advertised through letting agency Sharma Williamson, says it is envisaged their clients will refurbish the property and hand it over in a shell condition for the new tenant to fit out.

In July last year, co-owner Aldo Devittoris opened a new restaurant, Aldo’s Italian, in Harrogate Road, Greengates, and said at the time he and his brother Christian wanted a “fresh start”, and had plans to develop the Ital site.

He said: “I have downsized and that is going really well, and my brother has moved into catering so we decided to put the site up for rent.

“We have had a lot of interest in it already, it’s a great site, and as a family we decided this was the best move.”

Mr Devittoris has also recently submitted plans for a new gin bar two doors down from his restaurant in Greengates.

The proposed bar, which would be in a currently empty unit, would open in the afternoon and evening seven days a week, and employ one person full-time and two people part-time

He added: “I’m next door and Greengates is a nice area, we sell a lot of gin anyway so I thought a small bar would be perfect for the area.”

The property listing describes the Bolton Road premises as a single-storey, purpose-built restaurant property of stone and cement-rendered elevations under a pitched and hipped tiled roof.

“Various recent adaptations have included a conservatory, additional stores etc.

“The current accommodation is laid out to provide a dining conservatory, main dining area, beer store, catering kitchen, office, staff changing room and male/female toilets.”