One of Glasgow’s iconic hospitality venues, Cafe Gandolfi in the Merchant City, continues to trade despite being handed a winding up order by the tax office.
Colin Murdoch of Murray Stewart Fraser was appointed liquidator earlier this month following an HMRC court action against the 47-year-old restaurant in April.
The registered office of the owner has been moved from 64 Albion Street to an address in Kilmacolm. However, the business is continuing to operate, apparently after restructuring its finances.
In a statement, the owner sought to reassure customers that, contrary to some reports, it is not closing. “Thanks everyone for your lovely messages of concern and support for Cafe Gandolfi,” the statement said.
“Please be reassured that the reporting of our closure is incorrect and we are working our way through this. We are open as normal and look forward to seeing you soon. Seumas and team x.”
Earlier on its website, the owners had said: “The devastation of the coronavirus pandemic hit the hospitality industry particularly hard and in the effort to rebuild the business, creativity, sustainability and evolution have never been more critical and are at the heart of Gandolfi’s next phase.
“With determination and an undiminished passion for fabulous food and drink, the aspiration firmly remains to continue to be a major destination in Glasgow’s Merchant City.”
The message on social media
A spokesperson for HMRC said it does not comment on individual businesses because of taxpayer confidentiality, but did say: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money.”
Cafe Gandolfi was opened in 1979 by photographer Iain MacKenzie in the former offices of Glasgow’s old cheese market, before the area became a fashionable area for eating and drinking.
MacKenzie nevertheless saw the potential of the Albion Street premises and created a cafe influenced by European food, art and design.
The restaurant’s name was inspired by Gandolfi cameras, reflecting its founder’s background in photography. It introduced Glasgow’s first cappuccino machine and helped establish a new style of informal café culture in the city. In the 1980s, Billy Connolly, Annie Lennox or members of The Blue Nile were among its regular guests.
Its distinctive dining room became almost as recognisable as its food. It features heavy, hand-crafted furniture by the late Scottish sculptor and furniture maker Tim Stead, alongside photography, artwork and stained glass. The room also contains the stained-glass installation A Flock of Fishes by artist John Clark. The revolving door was taken from the Grand Hotel which stood on Sauchiehall Street before its demolition.
Bar Gandolfi opened in the loft above the restaurant in 2002. The former cheese store was converted by architect John MacLeod while retaining historic tiles and introducing more of Stead’s furniture.
MacInnes was joined in the business by his twin sons, Donald and Alasdair.
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