The restaurant has had a rollercoaster journey over the last few months
14:42, 08 Dec 2025Updated 09:19, 10 Dec 2025
Amalia on Campbell Square (Image: Liverpool ECHO )
A Liverpool restaurant has gone up for sale after it closed as a result of a small fire on the block. Amalia, a modern Italian restaurant located on Campbell Square, has been shut for just over two months now.
The venue was “closed until further notice” after Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were called to deal with an incident on Argyle Street on Tuesday, October 7. However, the restaurant has now been listed online on RightBiz as up for sale with a leasehold price of £300,000. The listing states a weekly turnover of £19,231.
After moving to England in 2007, owner Miguel Queipo teamed up with Antonio Lixi after the two worked together at an Italian restaurant in York, where Antonio was a chef, and Miguel was a manager.
Amalia was their first business venture, and its name holds a special place in Miguel’s heart, with the company being named after his nan.
Amalia owners Miguel Queipo and Antonio Lixi
In its lifetime, Amalia has amassed an impressive portfolio of awards, including multiple Liverpool Lifestyle Awards, two Liverpool Food and Drink Festival awards and The Positive Award, and Antonio won Chef Of The Year at the National Italian Awards in 2018.
The restaurant enjoys a loyal following of regular customers and is known amongst daring foodies for its calzone challenge. At the tail end of 2023, the owners decided to take on a new venture as the pair opened a tapas-style restaurant.
Located a stone’s throw away from the original restaurant, just across the road, is Amalia Cicchetti.
The online description posted alongside the sale of the Amalia site reads: “Rare Opportunity to Acquire a Well Established Restaurant in Liverpool.
Amalia Italian Restaurant has previously been crowned ‘Best Pizza In England’ at the English Italian Awards(Image: Amalia)
“Amalia represents a wonderful opportunity to purchase a much-loved business ready for a new owner to continue the legacy and trade under the existing name, or of course, place their own brand upon it.
“A family-owned Italian restaurant, Amalia has an abundance of regular clientele and is a truly loved venue, visited by thousands of customers over their 13-year history.
“Located in an enviable position in the heart of Liverpool City Centre, the restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine in a welcoming atmosphere that has built a loyal following since 2011.”
Prior to the fire, the establishment announced it had bounced back from a zero-star hygiene rating. On Monday, June 16, health inspectors said “major improvement” was needed in all three key areas – hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and management of food safety.
Randy Santel doing the Calzone Challenge at Amalia Italian bar Pizzeria on Campbell Square, Liverpool.
The inspectors also found “mouse droppings” at the award-winning venue. At the time, owner Miguel said the company was “taking the matter extremely seriously”.
The company then received a possible four stars out of five following a reinspection on Thursday, October 2. Miguel said: “The old rating didn’t reflect our true standards. It knocked customer confidence, slowed down trade, and put a big strain on us as a business.
“The good news is we’ve finally had the revisit, and we’re proud to say we’ve been awarded four stars. It’s a huge relief. We honestly can’t thank our amazing customers enough for sticking by us through all this. Their support has kept us going, and we’re so grateful.”
All enquiries regarding Amalia being for sale should be sent to Jonathan.beckett@newbroadstreet.co.uk.
Dining and Cooking