Watch: Restaurant owner loses thousands after trenching works block entrance

A Valletta restaurant owner was unable to open his premises for a week after turning up to find private trenching works blocking the entrance, costing him thousands of euros in lost business and discarded ingredients.

Warren Cremona arrived at his restaurant Paul’s Bistro earlier this month to find the street in front of the entrance to his establishment dug up and walled off with orange netting.

He said he was not provided with advance warning of the works, which left him unable to open during the Father’s Day weekend and the following week and filled his restaurant with dust.

While the local council provided Cremona with a metal panel last week to act as a makeshift bridge across the trenching works, he said the saga cost him upwards of €4,000 in lost business and spoilage.

“We had online bookings prior to the works being done, so last weekend I had to cancel all the bookings... It’s not on to get customers in this mess; dust is all over the tables, the bottles – it's against our religion,” he said.

“We pay rent, electricity bills... we work with fresh food only – nothing frozen – so after a certain time you have to dispose [of them]” said Cremona, explaining he had been forced to throw away unused fresh fish, meat, vegetables and dairy products.

“I understand that works need to be done and I’m fine with that but at least notify us,” he said.

The entrance to Paul's Bistro was blocked by private works earlier this month.

Times of Malta understands the works, which ran down the street of his restaurant – Triq San Ġwann – and adjacent Old Bakery Street are in connection with a nearby hotel development. The hotel developer did not respond to a request for comment.

At the time of publication, there were ongoing pavement works in front of the restaurant, while the trench had been filled in. Times of Malta published Cremona’s experiences on Tuesday to allow the developer and authorities time to respond to requests for comment.

A Transport Malta spokesperson said a permit had been issued for the works, noting that in such instances the applicant “is responsible for communicating the timing and logistics of the infrastructural works to third parties”.

The works continued up Old Bakery Street. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.

The Valletta local council said that while it remained “in close coordination on city matters, we would like to clarify that this particular project does not fall within the council’s remit”.

At the time of publication, Cremona had not been contacted by the applicant of the trenching works.