Italian restaurant to change name and reopen under new owners

A South Liverpool restaurant has new owners and will change its name.

Justino's Restaurant & Bar in Aigburth has been purchased by the team behind West Derby's Deysbrook pub. James Nolan, owner of The Deysbrook, will open the Aigburth Road site this summer, renaming it Amici.

Justino's had been effectively closed since the beginning of March, with its shutters down. A notice of forfeiture was placed on its front later in March, meaning the lease was forfeited, but it will now be given a new start.

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James, who took over The Deysbrook when he was 22, said it has always been his dream to run an Italian restaurant.

In a public post on Facebook, James wrote: "After nine years of hard work the time has finally come for me to start a new venture, one I have always wanted to do and tried to make happen for the last five years. My friends and family will only know how much I’ve always wanted to open an Italian restaurant.

"So I have finally made it happen and I can now shout about it. I have acquired the former Justino’s site in Aigburth.

"The Deysbrook, which has been my life for the past nine years, has allowed me to take on this challenge and I will still be fully involved in the day to day operation and running of The Deysbrook but just not around as much whilst I get stuck into this new venue.

"I have trained a team of amazing colleagues who have been with me for many years and they will look after the ship whilst I get my new venture off the ground."

James added: "The journey of Amici begins now! The site is currently undergoing refurbishment throughout while myself and a really brilliant right