EFFORTS are being made to keep a popular Italian restaurant in Barrow town centre open.

The community was dealt a shock last month after Mario House in Dalton Road announced the restaurant would close its doors after nearly three years.

In a statement published online, bosses revealed that this would be the last year of trade for Mario House after a failure to recruit staff.

The announcement also meant plans to expand the business and open a café and shop, known as the Adina Café, in Dalton Road were also halted.

But less than two weeks later, a spokesman for Mario House said they are ‘doing everything they can’ to keep the restaurant open.

He said: “We are trying to do everything we can to keep Mario House.

“We managed to have a positive meeting with the Barrow BID manager and him explaining the plans for Dalton Road including 219.

“We’re trying to move Mario House into 219 Dalton Road.

“We’re trying to apply for all licences necessary to move Mario House and hope the council will support us in this project.

“Many clients have come to ask us to stay in Barrow. It is extremely nice to see the community love our work.”

READ MORE: Italian restaurant Mario House in Barrow to close doors

It was also revealed the Adina Café project will still be going ahead, but in a different town, said the Mario House boss.

Colin Garnett, Barrow BID manager, said he was ‘keen to assist’ the owners of Mario House in any way to ensure they stay in the town centre.  

He said: “Barrow BID has met with the owners of Mario House and we are keen to assist them in any way to ensure that they stay in the town centre.

“I was lucky enough to get a tour of their new premises across the street and it is an exciting and ambitious project which will create a new, high quality venue in the town.

“The scheme would benefit from our own ‘Garden Street’ vision for that area but we are some way off turning that vision into reality with local business consultation the first step to delivering on our vision.  

“As a customer of Mario House, I will also add that the food and welcome you receive at the venue is always first class and if local people haven’t tried Mario House yet, give it a try and support local independent restaurants in Barrow.”