An award-winning restaurant in one of Britain's best-loved 'foodie hotspots' has unexpectedly shut down after just two years trading. Pranzo, a high-end Italian bistro operating in the booming Leeds suburb of Horsforth, today announced that its kitchen is permanently closed.
The decision has left around a dozen members of staff out of work and caused staff at sister restaurants in Ilkley, Harrogate and York to fear for their futures. The restaurant was located on Horsforth Town Street, where two of Britain's most renowned local restaurants are also located, making the north Leeds suburb an unlikely – but booming – destination for food tourists.
Prestigious awards and recognition
Pranzo had received an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence for its high-quality, freshly made pasta and dedication to traditional Calabrese flavors, and a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award recognising it among the top tier of dining establishments.
It was a neighbour of the critically acclaimed, award-winning French eatery Bavette, run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his sommelier husband Clément Cousin, which received recent national recognition, being crowned Britain's Best Local Restaurant by The Good Food Guide and earning a featured spot in the Michelin Guide. It was also located just a short distance from Ford, the small plate restaurant run by Matt Healy of MasterChef: The Professionals fame, whose renowned "food to swear by" brand earned him a 2020 Michelin Plate and a spot in The Good Food Guide, and is regularly lauded by a stream of social media influencers descending on the restaurant.
Impact on the local food scene
There are also two dedicated pizza restaurants, along with a Mexican, a Turkish and Thai restaurants and a Bangladeshi curry house all situated within a half mile radius. But there is now one less restaurant with the sudden closure of Pranzo.
In an announcement, owner Marco Greco said: "Yesterday, Sunday 9th August, was our last day in Horsforth. Our restaurant on Town Street has now closed permanently. It's been a hard decision, but ultimately one we've had to make as an independent restaurant. We explored every possible option, but unfortunately it was no longer viable for Pranzo Horsforth to remain open. Our Ilkley, Harrogate and York restaurants are very much still open."
Marco opened his first Pranzo in 2018 in Ilkley and two years later expanded to open a second branch in Harrogate. Horsforth was the third branch before a fourth was opened in York last year.
