Sherwood restaurant La Capanna currently closed after change of ownership

A much-loved Sherwood restaurant has temporarily closed after a change of ownership. Co-owner Luigi Di Benedetto, who ran front of house at La Capanna for decades, has decided to retire now he is in his 70s.

Co-owner Antoni Abbati, the chef, will continue to work there a while once it reopens to help the new owners get established. The duo have been at the restaurant, in Mansfield Road, for around 30 years. Up until 2019 the Italian taverna-style restaurant had been part-owned by chef Giorgio Ragno, who died after a short illness.

Antoni, known as Tony, said: “They are going to be changing the name and refurbishing it a little bit and [bringing in] a new menu. They will keep some of the old things, but revamp it all. It won’t be over the top, just changing a full things, clean it up, but without spoiling it too much because people liked it. It’s going to be the same atmosphere in the restaurant.”

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The 53-year-old said he loved the atmosphere, the compliments about his cooking, and the customers, who have been coming for years. “We know them all, they are like part of the family,” he said.

The restaurant was once visited by the late great actor Sir Alec Guinness and a plethora of Nottingham Forest players used to eat there, including Teddy Sheringham, who’d pop in every Friday for a big plate of pre-match pasta.

La Capanna, Mansfield Road, Sherwood

The restaurant will be renamed Locanda Verona and the existing staff will continue to work there. It is likely to open in a few weeks time once the refurbishment is complete.

Diners who frequented the restaurant are pleading for the new owners not to change it too much. One responded: “Happy retirement, enjoy. It’s been the best restaurant around for years, with the best food. I really hope this doesn’t change.”

Many told of the wonderful nights and fabulous food they had enjoyed in the old-fashioned surroundings. “Only good lovely memories. Old fashioned restaurant that’s why it was so popular. Enjoy your retirement. Will be missed,” wrote another customer. A third said: “Terrible news. An end of an era.”

As well as pasta, La Capanna served up dishes such as scallops and prawn thermidor, steak topped with blue cheese and pork saltimbocca.

Just six days ago one diner enthused in a review said: “My favourite and the best restaurant in Nottingham. This traditional family Italian never fails to disappoint on both the food and service. We are regulars and can honestly say we have never had a bad experience. Personal highlights are the steak Diane, lasagne and avocado prawns. You will not be disappointed!”