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An Italian restaurant in north London has closed suddenly with a scathing swipe at locals for “never supporting us”. Don Ciccio Osteria Italiana & Pizzeria in Highgate shut up shop last week, exactly six years after opening. It comes after damning new figures showed that Britain’s licensed hospitality sector has seen nearly 600 net closures over the past year as businesses struggle with rising costs and labour shortages. Don Ciccio’s owner Marco Claudio Valente blamed “the sheer indifference of our neighbours” for its closure despite boasting a 4.7-star rating on Google based on more than 700 reviews. However, recent reviews were less favourable with some lamenting the slow service and small portion sizes. The former civil engineer, who studied in Rome, claimed staff were forced to “endure the humiliation of entire evenings with an empty dining room” due to residents opting to order takeaways. He also accused The Highgate Society, a community organisation, of never responding to requests for collaboration. “We have closed due to a lack of customers,” the furious statement read. “To those who lived a few doors away yet ordered delivery from somewhere else, thank you for your commitment to distance. “To those we served during lockdown, when we were the only restaurant open, thank you for never visiting us once the pandemic ended.” He goes on to state: “We are guests in this country, and as guests, we will not complain. We'll simply say: addio. And now, with gratitude. “To our faithful customers — we'll miss you. Perhaps one day we'll meet again, in Italy.” Named after the overarching antagonist of The Godfather, Don Ciccio was just a stone’s throw away from Hampstead Heath, where the average property price is close to £1 million. Having described itself as a “true Italian” with “one of the best pizzas in London”, Don Ciccio was named Traveller's Choice on Tripadvisor between 2023 and 2025. Andrew Sulston, chairman of the Highgate Society, told the Ham & High newspaper: “We are always very sorry when any local business closes. “Because Highgate Society has no paid staff and all our activities are run by volunteers, we unfortunately cannot always follow up on all requests.”
