The Italian food chain has sites in Cheadle Hulme, Manchester and Alderley Edge
10:50, 29 Jul 2025Updated 10:50, 29 Jul 2025
Gusto(Image: Gusto)
Northern-based restaurant group Gusto Italian is on the verge of collapse and is likely to be sold through a pre-package insolvency agreement according to reports.
According to Sky News, Interpath Advisory is preparing a pre-pack insolvency of Gusto Italian, which currently trades from 13 sites across the UK.
Sources have suggested that a vehicle set up by Cherry Equity Partners, the owner of Latin American restaurant concept Cabana, will be the likely buyer.
Sky News reports that it is expected to take over most of the Gusto sites although some job loses are likely, and that a deal is imminent.
Founded in Cheshire in 2005 by Jeremy Roberts and the late Tim Bacon as a rebrand of Est Est Est, Gusto has previously been named Italian Restaurant of the Year at the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association’s PAPA Industry Awards.
The Italian restaurant Gusto in Didsbury closed in November last year(Image: Gusto)
The restaurant’s menu serves up a range of Italian classics, including pasta dishes, sourdough pizzas, antipasti, gnocchi, and steaks, as well as salads and desserts, which include ‘dough petals’ and Tiramisu.
The chain has a number of North West locations in Alderley Edge, Cheadle Hulme and Knutsford, as well as a restaurant in the city centre, near Spinningfields, on Lloyd Street.
It also has sites in Birmingham, Leeds, Cookridge, Edinburgh, Heswall, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Oxford.
Last November, the Gusto Italian restaurant in Didsbury, located on Wilmslow Road, shut down with immediate effect after bosses said they had reviewed the performance of the site and had also been approached by a ‘well-known’ retailer.
A spokesman for Gusto Italian told the Manchester Evening News at the time: “As part of our commitment to delivering excellence across all locations, Gusto Italian continually reviews the performance and strategic fit of each of our restaurants.
Gusto Italian in Cookridge(Image: LeedsLive)
“This proactive approach enables us to make well-informed decisions in the best interest of our business and our team.
“After careful consideration, and following an approach from a well-known high street retailer, we have decided to close Didsbury as a trading location.
“Didsbury has been part of the Gusto Italian family for many years, and we are deeply grateful to our loyal guests and community who have supported us over this time.”
The site was subsequently taken over by upmarket independent department store Oliver Bonas earlier this year.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Gusto and Interpath Advisory for comment.