Battlefield Rest owner says '˜rates row won't make us close'

Well wishers have mobbed the Facebook page of the Battlefield Rest after a firm assurance from owner Marco Giannasi: 'We will not close'.
"They'll never take our cappucino!"?  Battlefield Rest owner Marco Giannasi's "Braveheart" Facebook post drew support from hundreds of well wishers."They'll never take our cappucino!"?  Battlefield Rest owner Marco Giannasi's "Braveheart" Facebook post drew support from hundreds of well wishers.
"They'll never take our cappucino!"? Battlefield Rest owner Marco Giannasi's "Braveheart" Facebook post drew support from hundreds of well wishers.

As reported recently the leading south side restaurateur is embroiled in a protracted rates dispute after city assessors tried to impose a massive increase on his premises.

The Rest business was built from scratch on the site of a former tram stop, and after 20 years’ development has become one of the most popular dining out venues in the south side.

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Late last year Mr Giannasi made it clear the struggle was likely to continue into 2018, with legal representatives seemingly deadlocked with assessors over the final bill.

At the same time news reports suggest many other traders may be pondering how to field massive increases said to bear little relation to profits.

But a defiant Mr Giannasi - posting a picture of Mel Gibson in possibly his most famous role - this week thanked his legions of local supporters and told them: “We will NOT close because of a hypothetical rates bill”.

More than 400 people “liked” this message, and meanwhile many have personally offered any support they can give that may help.

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Echoeing Mr Gibson’s blue-painted hero, the restaurateur said his iconic enterprise would “never give in” to assessors.

Meanwhile, after months of worry about rates demands he regards as “insane”, the business has received some welcome news.

It has become a finalist in this year’s Glasgow Retail Business Awards.

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