Forum Topic

Tarantella Acton - Closing down

I was having another excellent meal in Tarantalla tonight which,as per usual, was virtually empty. I told the owner that I wish he had opened on Churchfield Road, as it would have been much busier.He told me, many people had told him that, but it was too late for him and that he will be closing down.The hideous high street claims another victim!I'm gutted.

Mark Jarvis ● 2865d36 Comments

Weren’t London thinking of expanding into the Angela Malik space? There’s a Halls-adjoining problem but maybe not insuperable.

Sara Nathan ● 2846d

I've been going to the one in Chiswick for years. It slowly established itself by building up a loyal clientele due to the quality of the food. It was slightly surprising to open up a new branch with the same name. In retrospect it might have deterred me from giving it a visit whereas a different name might have encouraged me to go on the basis that it might be offering something different. Their closure could in part be explained by their failure to exploit the value of the brand they had in the area. If they had launched with special offers to their existing customers 'word of mouth' might have worked powerfully in their favour. As it was they don't appear to have done any marketing or advertising at all which meant that lots of people in Acton may have been unaware of their existence before they closed.

Kevin Howard ● 2850d

I don't think the council can dictate what food it could be.  If it's A3 the lease can go to anyone who fulfils the landlord's requirements.

Sarah Vickers ● 2851d

Oh God please no.  Hopefully the council would see that doesn't darken Churchfield Rd. Totally inappropriate.

Jack Cloake ● 2851d

Well said Gill.

John Kennedy ● 2851d

As I said, we have seen many cafes and restaurants come and go there.  It does get plenty of footfall as it is opposite a major bus stop.  However, businesses all along the High Street struggle.  There are reasons to support that end of the High Street though.  Coffee House is excellent, Blue Ocean fishmongers, Fragola with its lovely Joe Delucci ice cream...I can’t say the decor bothered me at all.  It was fresh and bright, very Italian.  I don’t take that much notice of my surroundings if the food is good.Yes, they could have lowered their prices or had a menu more familiar to the average Brit.  However, of all the restaurants that have been in that space, they were the highest quality I have seen in seven years.The similarly excellent Genuine Italiano near North China also closed from lack of support.  We do need to get out there and support our local businesses, even if they are not exactly as we would wish.  Please, support good businesses on the High Street, or it will never improve.  You really don’t need to get jabs to come down here, you know...

Gill Hothersall ● 2851d

We did support Tarantella - even so much as suggesting they read the posts on here, making suggestions, etc, but took so long to implement, that they can't really blame lack of local support.  The High Street - especially that section - has barely any footfall, as there is nothing there: no shops, no banks, etc - nothing.  So unless you know about it - no reason to suppose there is an Italian restaurant there.  Also, for many would guess parking may have been an issue, but also - the interior didn't lend itself to somewhere you wanted to park yourself for a few hours for an enjoyable evening: bare walls, nothing 'homely' or 'welcoming' about the inside.  Shop front windows lending an air of goldfish bowl.  Yes, they may have lacked the support they expected, but maybe need to look at what they did or didn't do too.

Helen New ● 2852d

Quite funny really.....and no doubt part and parcel of why they didn't do better.  Somewhat arrogant.

Sarah Vickers ● 2852d

I see there is a piece on the front page where the manager blames the lack of support being the reason why they have closed down, no mention of possible reasons why it wasn't supported, most of which have been mentioned in this thread.Its a shame they didn't do a bit of homework before they opened the restaurant.

Kevin Bell ● 2852d

Not necessarily.

Sarah Vickers ● 2853d

its partly the churchfield road vs high street arguement. Tailor Made have only been open slightly longer than tarantella and have just expanded into the rocket pub. that place is always busy at the weekend. plus, the decor is very nice. sorry, but tarantella is decorated like a cheap kebab shop inside- if i'm going out to spend £40 on a meal for 2 with drinks i would want it to feel like a nice night out not that im sat in a cheap takeaway. They should have gone for a more traditional rustic italian look. the owner is blaming lack of support from locals but if he had located on churchfield rd and decorated the place nicely he would be laughing now.

Lee Harding ● 2853d

I think part of it was bad timing. The flats at the Old Town Hall (almost opposite Tarantella) aren't finished yet, neither are the flats in the Oaks. An there are scores of new homes being built in Acton Gardens along Avenue Road. When (and if) they are ever full of hungry new residents, the demand should be there. But they didn't help themselves by their initial appearance; the revamp improved things enormously but by then it might have been too late...

Lorna Dodd ● 2853d

Hopefully that might change with the new flats being built in the old town hall. The owner hasn't ruled out reopening

Chris Hurley ● 2853d

We have lived next door for seven years and nothing has lasted there more than a year.  Such a shame.

Gill Hothersall ● 2853d

I have had lovely meals at Tarantella, so sad it has now closed. Pity it was not a success. The staff were always nice and friendly.

Jan Jones ● 2854d

Londis own the old Angela Malik shop and I've heard that they want to open a Chicken Cottage franchise! I hope that's jus gossip and they use it for something nicer.

Tania Bapuji ● 2858d

There are so many empty units along churchfield rd and the high street. The area is crying out for decent restaurants and shops- why can't the council subsidise rents to encourage these units to become occupied? New build flats are not selling and shops remain empty.More shops businesses = more demand for housing in area = more council tax and revenue for the council.

Lee Harding ● 2858d

Yes, it seemed  a sure thing that Pinto's was moving in - still nothing.  You do wonder if the owner/landlord will ever let something open there.  I did hear that he was wishing to sell the property above with the commercial below.  Think at this juncture, he'd be better off selling them separately, otherwise, The Oaks will be finished before he finalises new owners - and it looks plain unattractive having empty shops.

Helen New ● 2858d

That was where we thought Pintos was going to relocate to, but there were some issues with the landlord I believe.

Chris Hurley ● 2859d

If he's given notice to the landlord, may no longer be up to him - landlord may have someone already lined-up and signed to rent.  Shame they can't open on Churchfield Road - Angela Malik's still not open, and there is a kitchen there ready to go...

Helen New ● 2859d

When I was there last Saturday night, the owner was very morose and told me that he would probably close 'next week'.But maybe things have picked up enough to change his mind.

Mark Jarvis ● 2859d

When are they closing, do we know? Recommending all my friends go there - so maybe they might change their mind about closing?

Chris Hurley ● 2859d

Had a delicious pizza there last night.  Very noisy though as there was a kids’ party in!  Nice to see people in though.  Apparently they were expecting another party later.Get down there before you miss out!  The stracciatella pizza is superb.

Gill Hothersall ● 2859d

I think the location is the problem. We regularly eat out in Acton but the high street is off our beaten track.

Kim Rugg ● 2862d

The last time I was there, I suggested to the owner that he does an early-evening two-for-one or discounted children's meals or something similar, to encourage families to go along at a time when the restaurant is generally empty. When the new cafe at Gunnersbury Park opened they were offering a free child's meal with every adult one. I'm sure there are plenty of parents who would go along if the price is right!

Kate Samano ● 2862d

I didn't try it, must admit. The thought of spending that much money on pasta and pizza in that location didn't entice me.Maybe being Puglians is why they didn't open on Churchfield Road - the Station House is well established Puglian food. Speaking of pizza - Putt in the Park pizzas are excellent and a lovely setting.

Tania Bapuji ● 2863d

The pizza chef is from Naples and while the pizza didn’t rival 9ne I had in Naples last year, it was pretty good.The menu very much reflects where the owners are from in Italy - we watched the Hairy Bikers series last year where they explored lesser known areas of several European countries, and were surprised to see how closely Tarantella’s menu matched up to Puglia’s specialities particularly.  Things like rapa (turnip tops) and nduja sausage are staples.That said, they would always do you something plain and simple.

Gill Hothersall ● 2863d

agree.  Quite a few people seem to like it hear but I was unimpressed.  Pizza’s were very poor when I picked some up for lunch. Tried a pasta dish for mains thinking it was a one off and that too was lacking flavour or flair at a price that makes the decent chains look like a bargain.

James Feth ● 2863d

It is indeed a shame to see a proper restaurant once again fail on the High Street but I am not really surprised.They haven't taken into account that Acton is not Chiswick or created a suitable menu. I have tried several times to find something I want on it and  their pasta, which anyone can cook at home, is rather expensive.  The other mains aren't cheap either.I am rather surprised as they are actually Italians.

Sarah Vickers ● 2864d

That's so sad , I went a few weeks ago and had one of the best pasta dishes to date but it was noisy with the buses and traffic going past. It didn't put me off though so I had hoped with the redecoration footfall would have increased.

Claire Rutland ● 2865d

I am just hoping he has a few bumper weeks and changes his mind. It's definitely one of the best Italian restaurants around this area.

Mark Jarvis ● 2865d

That’s sad loved their food well back to chiswick.

John Kennedy ● 2865d

The prices for pasta and pizza are similar to the chains, and the food is so much better.We have supported them often (they are our neighbours!) and they have tried so hard, even redecorating recently.People really need to get over their prejudices against businesses on the High Street.  Nothing will change if we don’t support the ones we have.

Gill Hothersall ● 2865d

That's so sad. We (some members of the CCA) were there on Wednesday night - 16 of us plus lots of other customers too. But I was there the week before - and it was virtually empty. The prices are quite high for Acton - more like Chiswick prices. I can't bear it if another chicken shop opens there!

Chris Hurley ● 2865d

It would be great to see a thriving High Street but right now it's just too grim. In my opinion, I don't think Ealing council are doing much to help it either.

Mark Jarvis ● 2865d

Do you think when the oaks shopping centre opens, the high street will see an increase in footfall and business?

Amir Ali ● 2865d