A STROUD restaurant is increasing its opening hours despite the economic crisis which the food industry is facing. 

Terra Cucina Italiana, based within the Five Valleys Shopping Centre and Sandersons Department Store is open seven days a week for breakfast lunch and will now add an evening service on a Friday and Saturday.

Currently, the restaurant is open between 9am and 5.30pm on most days - it is open until 8pm on a Friday, 5pm on a Saturday and 4pm on a Sunday. 

As of Thursday, October 20 Terra will be open until 9pm on a Friday and Saturday. 

Owners, married couple Matteo Conte and Clara Cardillo, took the decision after seeing a surge in bookings this month. 

“Since we opened our doors in May we have been stunned and eternally grateful to the people who have come in to try our taste of home,” said chef Matteo Conte.

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“By opening up in the evening for two nights a week we are giving more people the opportunity to come and visit as well as providing more hours for our staff and further employment.”  

Matteo Conte and Clara Cardillo, moved to the Cotswolds from Rome eight years ago and quickly got to work building a business doing what they loved, cooking and serving delicious Italian food.

Matteo and Clara also own, and will continue to run, with the help of Clara’s parents, Patrizia D’Onofrio and Andrea Cardillo, the Non Solo Pasta unit within the Five Valleys Indoor Market, where they have served their award-winning arancini for the past two years.