A Chester pizzeria which was recognised in a UK food magazine as serving some of the best pizza in the country is ready to open a new restaurant when government guidelines allow.
Giacomo Guido, who has received huge plaudits for his authentic pizza stall Stile Napoletano in Chester Market, has expanded his empire to open a bigger restaurant premises on Watergate Street.
His market store has been closed during lockdown, giving him plenty of time to devote to the renovation of his new restaurant in the former 49 Watergate coffee shop premises, which he says recreates 'a very Southern Italian environment'.
He has a couple of loose ends to tie up but is generally ready to open his new restaurant to the public when the government gives the green light for bars and restaurants to reopen for business.
Meanwhile, the market stall will still continue to trade as a complement to the restaurant, the latter of which will offer Giacomo's traditional basic pizzas as well new ones you can't get at the market, such as Neapolitan fried pizzas and traditional southern Italian starters and desserts.
"It has been a difficult few months, because our shop in the market has stopped, therefore no entry," he said. "Besides this there is also the fear obviously for everyone's health, and not knowing when everything will end, and if people will want to come and eat at the restaurant.
"The positive side has been having more time to devote to the renovation of the new restaurant, and I can say I am very happy because a beautiful restaurant came out of it.
"We have created a very southern Italian environment, like the Amalfi Coast or Ischia where I come from, that is not like the usual Italian pizzeria in the UK, but a real authentic place - like being in Italy."
Giacomo has used hand painted tiles from Vietri in his new restaurant, carrara marble for the tables and for the sign he has recreated the style of hand painted tiles that are used at the entrance of villas in Ischia, featuring lemons which are prevalent in that part of the world.
He has also imported six types of extra virgin olive oil from Puglia, which will be used on each pizza after cooking, and there will also be Italian wines, craft Italian beer and Franciacorta sparkling wine - also imported from Italy.
"We have waited for this moment for several years and nothing and nobody would have stopped us," explained Giacomo. "We have received a lot of love from this city in past years, and this place will be our way of thanking them, for we want to offer the best we can."
