A brand new food outlet selling freshly made Italian pasta is opening soon at Southport Market.
Pasta 51 Express opened its first venture in Liverpool city centre last year and has been a huge hit with people.
The venture is owned by well-known local restaurateur Attilio Sergi, who already owns the popular Trattoria 51 restaurant on the Promenade in Southport, which opened in 2003, and the Trattoria 51 restaurant on Old Hall Street in Liverpool city centre. He has 45 years of experience in the business and even more experience of making fresh pasta.
Attilio was born and raised in Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia, at the heel of Italy. His family grew special wheat crops for pasta and his childhood was spent helping his mother to prepare fresh pasta, just like many generations have done before.
Visitors to Pasta 51 Express will be able to choose from one of several hand-crafted fresh pastas on offer before adding from a range of slow-cooked pasta sauces such as bolognese, arrabiata, carbonara, cacio e pepe, chicken ragout, lentil ragout, and others.
Pasta 51 Express is adding a modern twist to the classic Italian dining experience by serving its pasta dishes in a cone, ready-to-eat. A new take on fast-food, they’re ideal to eat on-the-go, offering a quick and convenient alternative to a sit-down meal.
Attilio Sergi said: “I am looking forward to going into Southport Market with Pasta 51 Express!
“I tried to go in there last summer when the Market first opened, but all the units in there were taken. Mark Catherall (Sefton Council Head of Tourism) said he would let me know when one became available, and I am grateful for him doing that.
“I think this is a great opportunity.”
Pasta 51 Express will be situated on the Market Street side of Southport Market, near to the Vincent Hotel Pacific and The Allotment units.
Attilio was born and grew up in Puglia in Italy – ‘the home of tomatoes’ – and is looking forward to bringing his love of fresh food and the best ingredients to his new venture in Southport.
He said: “There has been something missing at Southport Market, and Pasta 51 Express is looking to fill that gap.
“For people who love Italian food, there is already an excellent pizza outlet – 600 Degrees Pizza – I am looking to provide customers with fresh pasta and fresh sauce, along with appetisers such as bruschetta, antipasti, meatballs, panzerotti and others. There will be some great sharing experiences, and some nibbles.
“I have tried to keep the prices down, so it will all be very affordable for people.
“I make all my own pasta, pasta fresca. We make all our sauces fresh too.
“I think we will be ready to open in a couple of weeks.
“We will start with three members of staff there, and will see how things go – we might get busier and soon need more people.
“It seems to be very busy there in Southport Market already!”
The first Pasta 51 Express store opened at Whitechapel in Liverpool city centre in July last year, and has been a huge hit with people looking for something fresh, tasty and quick to eat.
Attilio said: “Pasta 51 Express in Liverpool is doing very well! It is a big place, but it is very busy.
“I now have six restaurants I am supplying fresh pasta to now, plus my own two restaurants in Southport and Liverpool, and Pasta 51 Express in Liverpool.
“I am using top ingredients, using the best flour, which is from Puglia in Italy – the Rolls Royce of flour.
“I can make around 60 types of pasta, from spaghetti, to penne, to orecchiette, to tagliatelle. Thirty years ago in Italy every family made their own pasta at home.
“At Southport Market we will be offering a choice of five or six types of pasta, people can then choose one of 12 different types of sauce to go with it.
“The different types of pasta only take between one and a half and three minutes to cook.
“The service is very quick!
“In terms of speed; and quality; and how healthy the food is; there is nothing else like it. Pasta 51 Express is new and very different.”
Southport Market opened its doors in July 2021 following a £1.4million transformation into a new food, drink and events venue, led by Sefton Council and supported by funding from Southport Town Deal and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
It includes a large central feature bar, and several units selling food from around the world.
The first two days of trading saw an incredible 10,000 meals served in the first 48 hours alone and the attraction has been busy ever since.
Attilio said: “Look at the investment they made there! Southport Market has been fantastic since it has opened.
“It is so welcoming. You can bring your friends, you can bring your family, you can even bring your dog! I think it is brilliant.
“The quality of the food and the offering in Southport Market is really high, and it needs to be that way. Every unit in there is different.
“I am really looking forward to opening.
“Southport Market is already very successful. I am going in there with Pasta 51 Express to complement the fabulous experience which is already there.”
- For more details about Pasta 51 Express please visit: 51express.co.uk
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