A VACANT Carlisle city centre restaurant is due to get a new lease of life after lockdown.
The former Pompeii Steakhouse, on Abbey Street, closed its doors for good last year after failing to recover from the lockdown restrictions.
Its former owner cited a combination of fears over staff safety, problems with an insurance policy, ongoing rent demands and fewer paying customers, as a result of social distancing measures, as the reason that the business was no longer viable.
Now however plans have been announced to rename the eatery Anatolia and turn it into a Turkish Restaurant and Meze bar.
It promises to open “soon after lockdown”.
The news has been welcomed as a boost for the city centre which has been hard pressed with a wave of store closures, such as the Edinburgh Woollen Mill on English Street.
The announcement has been welcomed by Carlisle City Council leader, councillor John Mallinson and councillor Paul Nedved, cabinet member with responsibility for economy, enterprise and housing.
Cllr Mallinson said: “I was really sad to hear that the Pompeii Steakhouse was not reopening but I’m really please that someone has stepped in.
“I welcome the enhanced diversity and choice it offers to residents and visitors, it can only be seen as good news.
“I would like to wish them every success in their new venture.”
Cllr Nedved said: “I used to go to the restaurant and I’m really delighted at the new diversity of choice that this offers to customers.
“My first thought is what a resilient city and community.
“Post Covid-19 we will bounce back, a lot of businesses are ready to go, the Government has given a lot of support to keep businesses going.”
In July former owner of the steakhouse, Julie Simpson, said the decision to close had been difficult.
She added: “We built the restaurant from scratch nine years ago, but we feel we’ve been forced into it,” she claimed."
At the time a cafe run by her partner Paul Higgins – Gone to the Dogs, on Corporation Road – also announced it will not reopen.
Julie said: “Paul and I did research and realised that indoor spaces where people linger round a table is considered incredibly high risk of catching the virus.
For updates on Anatolia go online to its Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/Anatolia-Restaurant-Carlisle
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