CITY LOSES A PIZZA HISTORY
As a restaurant and pub beloved by generations of Glaswegians are set to make way for a hotel, their bosses look back at all the happy times they’ve seen
BY PAUL RODGER GLASGOW’S oldest Italian restaurant and a city pub with links to Frank Sinatra are set to close – to make way for a £30million hotel.
Restaurant O Sole Mio, dating from 1965, and boozer the Iron Horse – which opened in 1872 – will close their doors for the last time early next month when their leases expire.
The pub and restaurant are among five businesses on the the corner of West Nile Street and Bath Street, which are closing.
Jennifer Brooks, who runs the Iron Horse, and Djamel Benouari, who took over O Sole Mio nine years ago, spoke of their sadness at the loss of their livelihoods and two Glasgow institutions.
The Iron Horse was earler known as The Empire Bar. It served patrons and stars of the Empire Theatre – including Laurel and Hardy – around the corner.
For the past few decades, it has served as a “city centre local” and a meeting point for the Tartan Army.
In its 55-year history, O Sole Mio has been frequented by celebrities, including Billy Connolly and Old Firm footballers.
Ex-Rangers and AC Milan player Gennaro Gattuso, now managing Napoli, met wife Monica Romano in the restaurant, while Lorenzo Amoruso was also a regular.
George Capital, which now owns the block, is seeking permission to flatten the site to make way for a hotel, that the developers claim will create 100 jobs.
Djamel, 62, said: “We knew it was coming as the lease had not been renewed. But when the shutters come down, I’ll be sad.
“The miracle that I was hoping for didn’t come.”
More than 400 objections to the plan were lodged with the council and a petition by the Iron Horse attracted more than 2000 signatures, with objections coming from as far afield as Azerbaijan and the US.
The Blue Lagoon chipper – once patronised by pop star Justin Bieber – will also shut. Betting shop Paddy Power is now boarded up.
Jennifer took over the Iron Horse in the 90s with her father Eddie.
The Empire Bar became the Iron Horse in the 60s and, after name changes in the 70s and 80s, it re-opened with the existing name.
Jennifer said the family is focused on helping the venue’s 12 staff find other jobs, while a Tartan Army farewell party is planned in on February 1 and 2.
She said: “I’ve had elderly customers who say they saw Frank Sinatra in the Empire Theatre. There was a door in the theatre that backed on to the pub and the acts used to come in for a drink during intervals.
“We just want to say goodbye to as many of our regulars as possible.
“We get a lot of veteran groups meeting here so we have also been trying to find them other places to meet.”
Djamel took over O Sole Mio from the original owners, the Romano family, after a long managerial career in Glasgow’s hotel and restaurant industry.
Restaurant tycoon Mario Romano died in 2011, aged 71, leaving £4million, and is survived by wife Pina, who sublet the lease to Djamel.
Djamel said: “It hasn’t sunk in that in three weeks’ time we won’t be here.
“I know the Romano family are quite sad. It was their father’s first venture.
“There are a lot of memories wrapped up in the restaurant. I remember Lorenzo Amoruso in the kitchen showing us his new cook book.”
Glasgow City Council said the hotel application is in the planning process.