Full time for Rio's celeb-haunt restaurant

It's 'ciao for now' as Rio's Italian restaurant closes down

- JENNA CAMPBELL, JON ROBINSON, ETHAN DAVIES

ROSSO, the Italian restaurant co-owned by former United footballer Rio Ferdinand, has closed down after a final service on Sunday.

The M.E.N. understands that a worker arrived at the Manchester city centre venue yesterday morning and was told the restaurant was now permanently closed.

The restaurant has reportedly said it will not be continuing its lease on the King Street property.

The restaurant is located in 42 Spring Gardens, which is part of a portfolio run by Wilmslow-based Dean Property Group. The signage at the entrance also appears to have also been removed.

In a statement issued to the M.E.N, and shared online, owners said it was with 'mixed emotions' that they were announcing the closure and said it wasn't an easy decision' but said it was 'the right time' to go out whilst at the peak of their popularity.

The full statement reads: "Rosso Restaurant & Bar announces its closing having enjoyed a great 14 years success.

"Launched in 2009, in the 116 year old grade II listed building located at the top of Manchester's King Street, Rosso has been a fixture on the Manchester restaurant scene for 14 years, with a menu of traditional and contemporary Italian favourites.