CUSTOMERS who booked online for tables at a Trowbridge Italian restaurant or ordered takeaway meals have been left upset and disappointed.

They have found the Verona Italian Restaurant in Roundstone Street is closed or have been left out of pocket having ordered food to takeaway.

Its Facebook page says Verona is a family-run Italian restaurant focusing on quality food.

But it appears that Verona has been closed since last December with Christmas decorations still visible on the tables.

Wiltshire Times: A sign on Verona Restaurant’s front window states it is closed until March 24. Image: Trevor Porter77003-2A sign on Verona Restaurant’s front window states it is closed until March 24. Image: Trevor Porter77003-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

A very old handwritten and sun-faded sign in the window says the restaurant would be closed until March 2024.

It is now April and Verona is still not open.

Prior to closing, Verona had a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5 and 301 mixed reviews about its food and service.

One customer who misses Verona said: “The Trowbridge restaurant was always very popular with good food and excellent service by the Albanian owner and his kind wife.

“When perusing over their app and website for the Trowbridge restaurant over Christmas and the New Year period it indicated bookings could be made.

“But the restaurant was shut as apparently they went on a long holiday and didn't come back.

“It's a great shame if this fine establishment was to close permanently, because people are too scared to venture in this area due to rough sleepers in the former public house.”

One couple from Semington booked a table at the family-run restaurant in January but arrived to find it closed until March.

They posted a review on TripAdvisor, saying: “We booked online no mention of any closure.

“Arrived at appointed time to find they are closed until March! Why is it not stated on website. Very very disappointing."

Another customer ordered a takeaway on December 29 but was left upset when he found the order had been cancelled after he had paid.

He said: “Ordered takeaway, money taken, order cancelled 16 minutes later with no reason.

“Website is live, orders are live, tried to phone and the phone number is not recognised.

“Guess you’re shut, as no reply to your text chat either which promises a reply within 5 minutes.

“Now waiting up to 5 days for £100 refund. Poor performance all round. If you’re shut don’t take the order! Avoid.”

A third customer said: “We ordered food from their takeaway menu worth £84.30 only for the order to be cancelled with no explanation after they had taken the payment.

“We received a message to say the refund would be paid back within a few hours but a day later still no refund.

“This is very bad customer service as this was the money I had saved to treat my family and because I didn’t get it back I was unable to do so.

“I do not understand how a business can take a payment for something they couldn’t provide and then expect me to wait days to get it back!

“I will never be using this business again and advise people not to order food as it seems they can’t provide the service they offer.

“You will have to wait to get your money back and it’s pointless ringing them as they don’t answer their phones either.”

Tony Arapy, who used to own Verona, sold the business about a year ago because he was finding it difficult to run two restaurants - he also runs San Tonino in Shaftesbury - and could not comment on its closure.