Ribble Valley restaurant La Locanda named finalist in the PAPA Awards 2026
An Italian restaurant in the Ribble Valley has been recognised in national celebration of Italian food and hospitality
Based in the heart of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, La Locanda has been named a finalist in the 2026 PAPA Independent Restaurant and Delivery Awards.
Husband and wife team Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi, who own and run the restaurant in Gisburn, have built La Locanda aroundtheir passion for authentic Italian cuisine, culinary heritage and the warm hospitality at the heart of Italian dining.
The Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards (PAPA Awards) is an annual national event celebrating excellence in the Italian food industry, recognising quality and authenticity across the sector.
The finalist announcement marks another milestone for La Locanda, which has enjoyed considerable success at the awards over the years, receiving five Platinum Awards, including in 2023 and 2024, and seven Gold Awards, most recently in 2025.
Commenting on the announcement, Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi said: “We are delighted to be named finalists in this year’s PAPA Awards. For us, Italian food is about much more than what is on the plate. It is about our heritage, the traditions we have grown up with, the quality of our ingredients and the pleasure of welcoming people to our table.”
The PAPA Awards shortlist comes at a particularly exciting time for La Locanda, following its recent recognition as No. 1 in The Good Food Guide’s Best 100 Local Restaurants. This accolade reinforces the restaurant’s commitment to authentic Italian cuisine, seasonal ingredients and the traditions of Italian hospitality, and makes its place among this year’s PAPA Awards finalists an especially proud milestone for owners Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi.
The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square. The evening will feature award presentations hosted by chef Theo Randall and comedian Tom Ward, followed by a four-course dinner with wine and entertainment.