By Julian Whittle

Published at 09:20, Friday, 10 October 2008

ADRIANO’S, one of Carlisle’s most popular Italian restaurants, has a secure future for three years at least.

Still serving: Franco Bertoletti at his Italian restaurant Adriano’s

Carlisle City Council bought the Rickergate premises in March for £775,000.

Its intention was to bulldoze the restaurant and surrounding buildings to make way for a plaza with shops, offices, flats and a hotel.

But the Carlisle Renaissance scheme has now been shelved.

Adriano’s owner, Franco Bertoletti, said: “The council has leased it back to me for three years and they are getting a good rent. I will stay for those three years and see how I feel then.

“I’m 62 now, so I will be at retiring age. At the moment I feel OK and I like the place.

“But three years at my age, they make a difference, so we will have to see.”

The council bought Adriano’s and a home in Warwick Street with cash from the Northwest Regional Development Agency. It plans to keep them as “strategic property purchases” in an area identified for development.

Mr Bertoletti opened Adriano’s in what used to the Malt Shovel pub in 2004.

It was submerged under 6ft of water in the floods but re-opened after a refurbishment.

He put it up for sale the following year with a guide price of £700,000.

Mr Bertoletti opened Carlisle’s first Italian restaurant, Franco’s, then in Castle Street, in 1974. He has since owned and sold eateries including La Cucina in Lowther Street and Vivaldi’s in Lowther Street.

He also opened Greek restaurant, Zorba’s, in Warwick Road.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk