New owners take over at popular Italian restaurant in Henley-in-Arden
The new owners of a popular Italian restaurant in Henley-in-Arden have thanked the local community for their support, just a few weeks after opening.
Bee Gebru and Simon Collins took over at La Dolce Piazza in June, taking over from previous owners Gamal and Maria who moved back to Sicily after 17 years running the business.
And for Eritrean-born Bee - who had run her own cafes in London before moving to Warwickshire - starting her first restaurant with Italian cuisine was a natural next step.
"Eritrea was colonised by the Italians for 61 years," she told Nub News.
"So we share a lot of the same cuisine, and if you go to Asmara [the capital] it looks like Rome!"
She added: "I have always enjoyed cooking, and feeding people.
"When I was a little girl we used to make everything ourselves from scratch, the pastas and so on, so it is normal for me really!
"And I enjoy the front of house too, meeting new people."
Having closed for a short period for refurbishments, La Dolce Piazza reopened in July.
Bee admitted the remodelling had been "stressful" with new wiring, lighting, bathrooms, kitchen equipment and décor installed in such a short period of time.
But just weeks after opening for the first time, the couple have already received a lot of positive feedback.
"The regulars have been very supportive and we are also getting new people and people from outside Henley," Bee said.
"We have had positive feedback which has been great, as well as some constructive feedback which is great. It is building up.
"We started opening in the daytime around a month ago and that is slowly building. The evenings are very busy."
As well as the new lunchtime opening hours, the eatery is also set to have a new takeaway offering - adding to its existing array of traditional Italian favourites.
Bee explained: "There are a lot of offices here and we see a lot of people going to get lunch in town.
"So we are bringing the Italian delicatessen foods too, paninis, crepes and so on.
"This as well as coffee and small things to go.
"That will hopefully bring more people in during the day and maybe even children after school!
"We will be doing savoury and sweet crepes which we know will be great!"
But most of all Bee has thanked customers for their support and encouraged locals to come and try the new La Dolce Piazza.
"People in Henley-in-Arden are so lovely," she added.
"We have met some really nice people here and people have been very kind about the restaurant and our food."
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