Bella Italia closure at DL1 is ‘hammer blow’ for Darlington
And the closure of Bella Italia at DL1 in July will mark one of three big-name chains to close at the development in the last year alone, following Tomahawk and Estabulo.
The closure re-ignites the same serious questions over the future of the multi-million-pound site, which has been dogged by closures since its launch in 2016.
There have been calls for a “radical and creative” overhaul of the space – and fears the well-reported issues with its car park have “discouraged” people from visiting.
And while Bella Italia has not confirmed the reason behind its closure, the choice to not renew its lease leaves even more uncertainty over what the future holds for DL1.
Darlington Borough Council said it was a “shame” Bella Italia would be closing – and understands DL1 owners are “actively seeking new tenants for the empty units.”
A spokesperson said: “It’s sad to hear Bella Italia will be closing after many years. It’s always a shame when a business closes down and Bella Italia is no different.
“The council is in touch with the management of DL1, which continues to operate as normal. The management of DL1 are, we understand, actively seeking new tenants for the empty units.”
But leader of Darlington Conservatives Jonathan Dulston, who said he was “really disappointed” to hear the news, described it as a “hammer blow” to the town centre.
“I don’t think the Labour party has a grip on what is going on in the town”, he argued.
Mr Dulston said the “common denominator” between issues with DL1 and the council was car parking, nodding to how the site’s car park, owned by Excel Parking, has been marred by complaints over its strict five minute rule and subsequent fines.
He argued issues with parking were “discouraging people to come to the town centre”.
“There is not just one issue but certainly the most constant issue I hear when talking about the town centre [is parking] and I think that is evident with DL1.”
He added that he would be happy to meet with the owners of the complex to discuss how they can attract businesses to fill the vacant units.
As previously reported, Bella Italia confirmed yesterday that it would cease trading at the town centre complex in the first week of July, when its lease comes to an end.
A spokesperson for the popular firm, which was one of the first restaurants to open at DL1, said: “We can confirm that our restaurant in Darlington will cease trading at the end of our current lease in the first week of July.
“We would like to thank our fantastic team at Darlington who have done an amazing job over the years.
“We would also like to thank our wonderful Darlington guests; we hope to see them again in one of our other north-east restaurants.’’
The history of DL1
The Feethams Programme, as it was previously known, was first unveiled in November 2012 in a bid to regenerate the area to the south of the market square.
The proposals were approved in December 2013, and after years of work, it finally opened to the public in June 2016, anchored by a VUE Cinema and Premier Inn.
But just years after launching, the string of restaurant closures began.
Italian restaurant firm Prezzo closed in 2018, followed by Mango Bean in February 2020 – the latter of which placed some blame on a lack of footfall in the area.
The Chinese Buffet closed suddenly in July 2021, and then Tomahawk Steakhouse shut in July 2024, when its owner also said low footfall contributed to the decision.
In January, Estabulo then suddenly closed its doors, and weeks later, all signs and branding were removed. The restaurant is still yet to reopen.
Estabulo’s most recent update said it was “still in the process of reviewing future plans and no final decision has yet been made regarding reopening”.
Speaking earlier this year, retail guru Graham Soult said DL1, like many other developments, had been impacted by restaurant chains opting to downsize estates.
He also described DL1’s podium area as “a rather windswept and unattractive space”, saying it is not a “natural pedestrian route to anywhere”.
However, he still believes it can be a success, so long as there is some “radical and creative thought” put into how it can be reworked.
Read More:
The Northern Echo has long reported the clear and serious concerns at DL1, and questioned how it would continue to operate with nearly half of its units empty back in January.
From July, six units will be empty out of DL1’s 11, proving that something needs to change – and quickly – to bring the landmark project back to its best.
The owners of DL1 have been contacted for comment.