Key Points
- La Bella Vita, an Italian cafe and restaurant in Castle Street, Trowbridge, has shut down due to six years of operation.
- According to the owner of the business, Angelo Scanus, customer turnout fell by 35 percent, making it unviable.
- It was a place where Italian and Sardinian foods, such as fresh pasta, pizzas, panini, focaccia and arancini were served.
- For Mr Scanus, this is a “tough call”, and “sad to say goodbye” to Trowbridge.
- Furthermore, he said the hospitality industry has been suffering for many years and small businesses face a lot of pressure.
- Previously, the firm had to relocate from its previous premises due to some reasons.
- While the number of employees declined, loyal customers continued their patronage up until the end.
Trowbridge (Wales Times) September 24, 2026 – An Italian cafe and restaurant in uk/local/cardiff/trowbridge/">Trowbridge has closed after its owner said a sharp fall in customer numbers made it impossible to continue trading. Angelo Scanus, who ran La Bella Vita on Castle Street, said he was “sad to say goodbye” to the town after six years in business. He told the Wiltshire Times that the decision to shut was “difficult” but unavoidable as turnout dropped drastically.
Why did La Bella Vita close?
As reported by the Wiltshire Times, Mr Scanus said: “Turnout has dropped drastically and we’re about 35 per cent down. Customers have just stopped coming.” He added that the wider hospitality industry had been facing difficulties for years, creating an increasingly challenging environment for independent operators. “The hospitality industry has been struggling for many years and it’s such a shame,” he said.
Mr Scanus also highlighted pressures on small businesses in the town centre. “Trowbridge is destined to disappear. There will be no small businesses. They’re shutting down everything,” he said. Despite surviving the pandemic, he said the business could no longer continue under current conditions. “We have been here six years and we even survived Covid, but we cannot continue,” he told the Wiltshire Times.
What did La Bella Vita offer?
La Bella Vita positioned itself as a destination for Italian and Sardinian-inspired food and coffee. The menu featured fresh pasta dishes such as malloreddus alla Campidanese, fresh pesto and parmesan pasta, and both vegan and traditional lasagne. Pizzas on offer included Margherita, Napoli and a Sardinian dry sausage variety, alongside panini, focaccia and arancini. The cafe promoted the use of fresh ingredients and seasonal produce for customers dining in, stopping for coffee or taking away.
How did relocation affect the business?
Mr Scanus said the business had faced additional challenges after being forced to move from its original premises. “It’s been difficult as we were moved from our first place,” he said. He added that staying in Trowbridge had always been the preference.
“We’d like to stay in Trowbridge, that’s what we would have preferred,”
he said. The combination of relocation and falling footfall contributed to the decision to cease trading.
What did the owner say about staff and customers?
The closure has resulted in a reduction in staff numbers at the business. “I have had to reduce staff members,” Mr Scanus said.
“I have been strong, trying to manage as best I can.”
He acknowledged the support of regular customers, saying they had remained loyal until the end. “Our customers have trusted us and supported us – they have stayed with us until the end,” he said.
What are the next steps for La Bella Vita?
La Bella Vita has now closed its doors on Castle Street. Mr Scanus said he was disappointed to be leaving the town but had no regrets about the six-year journey. “At the end of the day, I have no regrets,” he said. “And we will never forget our time here.” No further details have been announced about potential future plans for the brand or the premises.
Background to the development
The closure of La Bella Vita comes amid a broader pattern of pressure on independent hospitality businesses in Wiltshire and beyond. Recent reporting has highlighted other cafe and restaurant closures in the county, including artisan chocolate businesses and long-established venues citing rising costs, labour expenses and falling customer numbers. National chains have also been affected, with major coffee brands closing multiple stores over the past year as consumer habits shift and operating costs rise. Local tourism bodies continue to promote Wiltshire’s cafe and tea room sector, but operators warn that small, independent sites are particularly vulnerable to changes in footfall and spending.
Prediction: how this could affect local diners and small businesses
If customer numbers for independent cafes and restaurants in Trowbridge and similar market towns continue to fall, local diners may see fewer choices for casual Italian meals, specialist coffee and artisan food options. A reduction in small hospitality venues can also affect town-centre footfall, with fewer reasons for visitors to linger and spend in adjacent shops and services. For small-business owners, the La Bella Vita case underlines the risk that even established, pandemic-resilient operators can become unsustainable when turnout drops by a third or more. Unless footfall and spending patterns improve, or support measures for independent hospitality are strengthened, further closures could narrow the range of independent dining options available to residents and visitors in Wiltshire.
