The Night a Lorry Smashed Into Our Restaurant - And Why We're Still Here on Queen Street On January 24th, 2025, a lorry smashed into the front of our restaurant - Miseria e Nobiltà Ristorante Italian

Before January 2025: Our restaurant at 11 Queen Street, Colchester - perfect, welcoming, ready for you. This is how Miseria e Nobiltà should look.

The entrance, the brick wall, the door frame, the glass and even the electric cable - destroyed in seconds. This building on Queen Street is Grade II listed, near Colchester Castle. It's part of Colchester's history.

January 24th, 2025: A lorry smashed into our front entrance, destroying the door frame, glass, brick wall and electric cable.The damage was serious and we were taped off for safety. Police closed the footway. We were told we might have to close.

But we made a decision that day: We will not close.

We made it safe, we cleaned up, and we kept making pizza.

For almost 2 years now, you have walked past the damaged wall outside, and still come inside where it's still warm, still Italian, still us. Inside, nothing changed.

Thank you, Colchester. You kept us alive when a lorry tried to knock us down.

An update on the repairs:

Our insurance claim has been a very long process. We are now at the stage where the insurance company will send their own repair team to restore the front wall. We are waiting for a date for the specialist heritage work to begin, as this listed building requires expert care.

It has been nearly 2 years since the accident, but we are hopeful the restoration will finally happen soon.

Until then, we are fully OPEN. Don't be put off by the outside - inside we are perfect.

Today: Outside is still waiting for the insurance repair team, but inside our oven never stopped. Fresh Queen Margherita every day, made by Giuseppe at 7am. We are OPEN!

We still make dough every morning at 7am.

We still use San Marzano DOP tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella.

We still are head chef Giuseppe, same team, same family.

If you walked past and thought we were closed - we are not! Come in and see us.

We are Miseria e Nobiltà. Miseria and Nobility. We survived a lorry smashing into us. We will survive this too.

Grazie di cuore,

Giuseppe Buonocore

Head Chef & Owner

Miseria e Nobiltà Ristorante Italiano

11 Queen Street, Colchester CO1 2PG

01206 760 757

www.miserianobilta.co.uk