Giffnock restaurant changes from Babbo to Banco - but that’s all that’s different

Giffnock restaurant Babbo has changed to Banco Bar & Kitchen - but everything else remains the same.

Roberto’s restaurant had been trading from premises in Mains Avenue since opening in March 2016 under the name Babbo – which is Italian for ‘daddy’.

But he’s now had to change the name of his restaurant after two top English Premier League footballers claimed the name Babbo for their bistro in London’s Mayfair.

Chelsea’s Brazilian stars David Luiz and Willian only opened their bistro last April.

Roberto Cecchetti has changed the name of his Italian restaurant to Banco.

But it turns out the name Babbo was registered back in 2009 and the premises had been closed for refurbishment before its high-profile relaunch last year.

So Roberto’s Giffnock restaurant has now been rebranded under the new name of Banco.

Roberto said: “It’s all been a bit of a nightmare, but I have to move on now.

“My main concern is making sure my loyal customers know this is the same business.

“People can put two and two together and come up with 40, but nothing here has changed apart from the name of the restaurant. I want people to know it’s business as usual.

“There’s no new owner. We’re still the same restaurant as before.

“It’s the same owner, the same staff, the same menu and the same food.

“We’ve had people phone up to make a booking and when we say ‘Banco’, they think they’ve got the wrong number and we have to try to stop them before they put the phone down.

“I just want to get the message out there that it’s the same restaurant.”

Roberto has had to spend thousands of pounds to change the name to Banco.

He’s had to order new signs and new canopies for the outside of the building.

The menus have had to be reprinted with the new name. Even the staff’s aprons have had to be changed as they had the old name on them.

He’s had to change his website and social media accounts, and then there’s the legal side of it all – officially changing the name of the business at Companies House.

“It’s been an expensive exercise and it’s taken up a lot of time,” said Roberto.

“I just want to get back to running my restaurant.

“I’ve taken three years to build up the business and gain the confidence of local people, and I want that to continue.”

Banco Bar & Kitchen is based at 2 Mains Avenue, Giffnock.

The restaurant’s new website Banco Glasgow is now working, and you can call Banco on 0141 620 0033.