A restaurant which operated without a valid drinks licence for several years before closing its doors looks set to reopen under a new name.
Giancarlo’s in Tranent opened in August 2015, but the company which held its premises licence, Pacitti Ltd, was dissolved the following September meaning it the permit was no longer valid.
The matter only came to light two years ago after the restaurant operators missed their annual licence fee payment and East Lothian Council’s licensing team checked on its status.
Now it looks likely it will reopen after Mauro Pacitti applied for a series of occasional licences to allow alcohol to be sold on the premises in April under its new name La Trattoria.
The occasional licences applications will go before East Lothian Licensing Board where members will be told Mr Pacitti is a personal licence holder but no application has been made for a new premises licence for the restaurant, leading to the request for the temporary permits to sell alcohol during opening times next month..
Giancarlo’s opened on Tranent High Street in 2015 quickly becoming a popular eaterie in the town. It was forced to close its doors temporarily in 2022 after safety fears were raised about subsidence issues with the building.
The restaurant reopened five months but closed its doors for the last time in May 2023.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
