Roberto's Pizza House is opening at a new location on Piccadilly in Hanley this evening (23 April). 

The new unit, previously home to The Quarter until winter 2022, is around the corner from the previous Pall Mall restaurant which had hosted diners from near and far for over 43 years. 

Roberto's closed its previous restaurant for the last time on Saturday after the building's landlord notified the business owners of plans to change the use of the premises into residential accommodation. 

The business has spent tens of thousands of pounds to bring the new site back into use, including work to repair a hole in the roof, replastering and installing gas.

Co-owner, John McCusker, told Stoke Nub News: "I think people have understood we're not moving because we want to but because it was either this or close the restaurant altogether." 

"There were 15 of us lifting the pizza oven out from the old restaurant and then we put it on a trolley and rolled it all the way down the street and squeezed it in through the door here. 

The team have worked to include the stylings of the previous Roberto's restaurant. (Nub News)

"Since we closed the previous restaurant on the weekend, we have been working 12 to 14-hour days to get everything ready for the opening. 

"Luckily, we have the old building for another six weeks so we can still go backwards and forwards moving things over but it has been crazy."

John has been employed at the restaurant for much of his working life and is now one of the co-owners of the business.

The team have worked to replicate the stylings of the previous restaurant and they have kept the same red and white checked table covers, memorable pictures and terra cotta tiles above the bar and kitchen. 

It took 15 people to lift and transport the 18-year-old pizza oven to the new Roberto's restaurant. (Nub News)

Additionally, the wine rack, with a new lick of paint, has been at Roberto's since the day it opened in 1981 and is now hung next to the new bar area. 

The new restaurant can accommodate more covers compared to the previous premises, and the upstairs area will be open on some weekends, once the renovation is fully complete. 

There are also plans to have outside seating in the summer.

John added: "It's going to give us the ability to have a busy summer's day.

Roberto's has been serving celebs and Stokies alike for over 40 years. (Nub News)

"The customers love Roberto when he comes in. I don't think there is a restaurant in Hanley that has been around longer and only a few in Stoke-on-Trent that are older. 

"I think it's a testament to how long it's been going and now I hope the move isn't going to change the way people think. 

The restaurant's wine rack has been in Roberto's since it first opened. (Nub News)

"I hope Piccadilly is on the up again, when you look around there are only a few that are closed and everyone is starting to do well again. 

"A couple of years ago, when everyone was open, it was busy here and we've always been lucky because we have our regulars but when there are a lot of options you become busy - so it's nice now to see more people coming into the area."

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