An Italian restaurant with a turbulent history is due to reopen under a new owner.

La Carbonara in Westcott Place was announced to be closed for the foreseeable future due to health reasons in February and never reopened - until now.

The owner of Fabio’s and Grano Lab, Gianni Pau, says he is now the owner of La Carbonara too and it will reopen on October 24.(Image: Carbonara Trattoria & Bar) Gianni said: “We are bringing something new to Swindon with Roman dishes including the pinsa romana - a different style of pizza - as well as classic Italian dishes.

“I’m very excited about it.”

Gianni’s Grano Lab on Victoria Road opened this year serving Neapolitan cuisine, while Fabio’s has been a mainstay in Swindon for over 20 years.

He said the old Carbonara owner, Lino Goncalves, will still be in the background “appearing every now and then”.

A notice on the website of Carbonara Trattoria and Bar still reads: "Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we will be closed for the foreseeable future."

It came after a turbulent few years for the restaurant of closures and openings.La Carbonara was a family-run restaurant, managed by Lino and Sue Goncalves (Image: Newsquest)

The venue unexpectedly closed before Christmas 2022 due to ill health and personal reasons, leaving customers who had made festive bookings to rearrange their plans. 

It was then put up for sale, but a U-turn was announced in July 2023, with Lino and Sue confirming they were actually going to reopen the venue as Carbonara Trattoria & Bar. 

Last September co-owner Sue Matthews died just weeks after the restaurant had undergone a refit and reopened. (Image: Carbonara Trattoria & Bar)

Following Sue's death, an announcement was made that Lino and his sons would be keeping the restaurant going. But months later in February Lino announced: "Unfortunately we have had to close once again due to a personal health emergency.

"We will be closed for the foreseeable future and will provide updates in the next couple of months. Any bookings that we have taken will be cancelled, this includes Valentine's Day.

"It breaks our hearts here at the Carbonara family to have to do this again so we say thank you all for understanding and we are very very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

The reopened venue will be open on Tuesday evening 5.30 until ten, Wednesday to Saturday lunchtime 12 - 3pm and evening 5.30 - 10pm and Sunday lunch time 12pm till 2.30pm. 

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber, you will get:            

  • Unlimited access to the Swindon Advertiser website        
  • Advert-light access             
  • Reader rewards             
  • Full access to our app