Penketh restaurant owner urges people to dine out again

Andrew Stafford is the owner and head chef at Delgados, an Italian restaurant on Honiton Way, Penketh.

Delgados has been in the area for over 21 years, having first opened its doors in 2001 - Andrew took over in May 2021.

Andrew took over in 2021 (Credit: Dave Gillespie) (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Despite increasing costs of energy, fuel, and ingredients, Andrew has been determined not to pass off costs unfairly onto customers.

He said: "When I first took over, I dropped £1 off most of the food items, where I could.

"Only 18 months later did I add that pound back on - so our prices haven't gone up at all since I took over, really.

"Plus, I knocked money off almost all of our alcohol prices, so all of our food and drink prices are the same or lower than before the pandemic."

Delgados serves Italian food such as arancini and - of course - pizza (Image: Delgados)

Andrew recently put out a warning on social media that unless local restaurants receive support from their communities, they risk extinction.

Delgados recently trialled opening for daytime service, but the restaurant did not receive the footfall needed to make this viable - Andrew later cut the additional hours.

He said: "Even though the restaurant isn't open on a Monday and Tuesday, I'm in the kitchen ordering and prepping food all day.

"Then on days we're open, I'm in the restaurant from the early hours of the morning until around 11pm.

"We aren't open on Sundays, and I refuse to do that because that's the only time in the week I can spend good time with my wife and children."

Andrew makes the restaurant's pizza dough fresh every day (Image: Delgados)

The Penketh restauranteur added: "All I want is to leave something behind for my kids.

"That's my purpose."

Delgados is on Honiton Lane, Penketh, and is open Wednesday-Saturday from 5pm until 11pm.