Solihull restaurant with ‘fabulous food’ is to open on a once derelict site

A new name has announced it is to move into the site of a once-popular Solihull restaurant which has closed suddenly. Esabella’s on Warwick Road in Solihull town center suddenly closed its doors last September, leaving confused diners to return to a deserted place.

A heavy hitter on Solihull’s foodie scene, known for its European and Mediterranean cuisine, customers were left scratching their heads after Esabella ceased trading, just months after the owners told BirminghamLive they were forced to close the doors due to circumstances “outside their control”. .”

Since then, the unit has remained empty. But on June 3, Solihull BID announced that a Portuguese restaurant will be moving in and opening very soon. Porto Douro Restaurants is set to open in the old Esabella’s premises, hoping to bring life to that corner of Warwick Road.

READ MORE: Popular Solihull restaurant to close suddenly months after expensive redevelopment as bosses say ‘no choice’

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Porto Douro Restaurants, which has a site in Acocks Green, posted on their Facebook page in April that a “new menu and website launch” would be coming to Solihull soon, but no further details beyond that.

Confirming the news on Monday, Solihull BID said: “Well the cat is out of the bag! The stunning Porto Douro restaurant is coming to Solihull town centre, taking over the old Esabella’s premises.”

And they gave an idea of ​​what diners can expect, explaining: “Porto Douro is a Portuguese restaurant and bar where people can come together and enjoy good food, good wine and good times!” News of the opening of Porto Douro on Warwick Road will be welcomed by Solihull diners, especially as Esabella’s was once full of trades after tasting the fine dining and social atmosphere.

After it closed, the restaurant remained frozen in time, the interior completely stripped, the urinals ripped out and left by the bar. When BirminghamLive visited the site, the only sign of life left were glasses and plates of food left discarded at the entrance.

Commenting under Solihull BID’s Facebook announcement, diners were quick to express how happy they were that the establishment was filling up and even offered an insight into what to expect from Porto Douro. One happy diner wrote: “Can’t wait to try it!!”

Another added: “Fabulous food!” Esabella’s was located just off Mell Square, which has been the site of many changes recently. You can read the latest updates about Mell Square here.