Popular Italian restaurant, Pranzo, is relocating to the centre of Ilkley in a move that will more than double its capacity and boost the Ilkley restaurant scene.
In October, Pranzo Italian will move into the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill store in The Moors Shopping centre. The former clothing store is undergoing extensive renovation to create an authentic Italian dining space.
Pranzo has become a local staple for authentic southern Italian cuisine and carefully selected imported wine. Not only will the move let more people sample their homemade pasta, it will create skilled hospitality roles. Pranzo already employs over 60 people in the local area and this move will create further jobs.
After five years in Ben Rhydding, owner and chef Marco Greco is looking forward to the next stage in Pranzo's journey. "Pranzo Ilkley was the first restaurant we opened. The community here have been so welcoming. The Ben Rhydding restaurant is a small, intimate venue that started life as an Italian café bar. We’ve evolved to serve homemade pasta, and things have taken off - we’re often fully booked.
Our new venue, just minutes down the road, will allow more people to come and enjoy our homemade pasta and the traditional Calabrese food I grew up with. It feels like the right time to move into a new place and the location, in the heart of Ilkley, will be great for the Pranzo style of dining."
In 2018, the restaurant opened its doors in Ben Rhydding and has worked hard to stand out and gain a loyal following. Stephen Peace, operations manager, confirms that given the economic climate the restaurant evolved in, the Pranzo business model has remained stoic. "Hospitality has and will always be a tough industry to be in.
We focus heavily on using quality produce, sourced from Southern Italy, to create incredible food and we work hard to provide an exceptional customer experience. Combined, this has allowed us to build gradually and gain a good reputation with a loyal customer base”.
“New seasonal specials and Light Lunch menus will be launched just after the move, we’re excited to hear what our customers think about the fresh tastes in our new location. Plus, before we know it, we’ll be into the festive season and welcoming parties through the door. There’s always something happening at Pranzo but we like it that way!”
Their other restaurant on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate opened in 2021 and recently expanded. They also serve fresh, homemade pasta to locals.
Pranzo Italian is moving to 2 – 3 The Moors, South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, LS29 9LB
The new venue will be open from Thursday 5th October.