Celebrities including Eric Clapton and Bryan Ferry have voiced their support for a West London restaurant said to have been beloved by Princess Diana, after news broke that its license is under threat.
Italian restaurant La Famiglia has been situated in the heart of leafy Chelsea for five decades, but has been threatened with a licensing review following a dispute with a neighbour who insists the venue is “making too much noise”.
Complaints from a neighbouring property
Since February last year, the restaurant has been beset with a number of complaints from the occupant of a property that overlooks the restaurant’s garden. The neighbour in question, 34-year-old venture capitalist Francesco Perticarari, started renting a £2million property in the area in November 2024, according to The Times.
In his complaints to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Perticarari said excessive noise from the garden can be heard from his two-year-old daughter’s bedroom.
Restaurant's response and licensing review
Despite possessing a license to keep the garden open until midnight, La Famiglia’s owner, Marietta Maccione, has started closing the garden an hour earlier as well as introducing a “noise marshal” to appease Perticarari. Perticarari’s numerous complaints have triggered a licensing review, which will be held on Tuesday, October 13, on the grounds of “Prevention of Public Nuisance and Protection of Children from harm”.
Celebrities and locals show support
Celebrities and locals alike have written to the council in defence of the royal hotspot. Rock legend Eric Clapton wrote that his family had been visiting the restaurant for more than 30 years. He said that to “strip away or heavily restrict the terrace would destroy the very soul and fantastic atmosphere of this lovely restaurant”.
Singer Bryan Ferry wrote: “Should the garden be forced to compromise its service, the restaurant would lose much of its attraction.” Made in Chelsea star and jeweller Rosie Fortescue, 36, questioned why the tenant had lodged complaints given the restaurant's long-established presence.
Other celebrities who voiced their support for La Famiglia include José Mourinho’s daughter Matilde Felix and MasterChef host Anna Haugh.
