On 9th December 2023, La Locanda owners Agrichef Maurizio and his wife Cinzia Bocchi celebrated their 20th anniversary.
“Italy, New Years Eve of 1984 was the start of something magical, a love story that would take a young couple on an adventure to another country … to the top of their profession.”
Our Story
Originally from Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, Maurizio Bocchi gained his diploma as a Perito Agrario (farming and horticulture with chemistry).
In 1996, with his wife Cinzia, they moved to Lancashire England where Maurizio continued his agricultural education and worked at an Italian restaurant as comis chef, quickly promoted to the role of senior sous chef.
With the ultimate dream of having their own restaurant, and after viewing many properties, a walk in Whalley past an agent’s window would be where Maurizio and Cinzia first spotted their La Locanda.
Renovating the restaurant was a mammoth task and taking on most of the work themselves, they took the building apart. It had been a chapel, a garage and a sweet shop … and now it was to be an Italian restaurant.
La Locanda opened its doors in 2003 and continues to win an array of awards.
“We have always felt at home in the Ribble Valley. In fact the surrounding villages remind us very much of Italy – from the Springtime weather (and rain!) to the friendly, welcoming people. So although we are Italian … we also feel a little bit Lancastrian too.”
Cinzia Bocchi
