Care home plan to cure pasta troubles at Preston restaurant

A derelict Italian retaurant could be turned into a care home after Preston Council decided to sell off its interest in the site.

Town Hall chiefs have agreed to offload the freehold of the problem Baffito’s venue on the dock estate to the Glenholme Healthcare Group for an undisclosed sum.

And residents in the Ashton area are hoping the deal will finally rid them of an eyesore which has attracted antisocial behaviour since the restaurant closed its doors exactly a year ago.

Vandals and thieves have regularly targeted the property which was previously the Waterfront pub. The car park was also home to a travellers’ encampment for several weeks back in May.

The decision to sell the freehold came on the same day the council also struck a deal to accept an undisclosed offer for a second plot of land at Diadem House on nearby Portway. The office block, which has housed HM Revenue and Customs staff, is one of several Government buildings being sold off in Preston as part of a centralisation

programme.

Baffito’s shut up shop in October 2019 amid claims it had been plagued by antisocial behaviour. Vandals caused extensive damage to the premises and city councillor John Potter called for better security to keep troublemakers out.

“It’s great news that there could be a nursing home there instead of what is a grim eyesore,” he said. “Anything is better than what we have at present.

“It’s such a shame to see it like that because it is such a great location.”