A NEWPORT restaurant is up for sale after its owners decided to retire due to ongoing health problems.

Brian Lloyd and his wife Christine have run Chez Giovanni in Clarence Place for 13 years.

But after Mr Lloyd, 65, suffered a heart attack two years ago and the couple have continued to suffer health problems, they have decided they want to give the business up and spend more time at their home in Magor. Mr Lloyd said: “In this tough time, people are selling restaurants simply because business is bad. Our reason is because of our health.”

The Topolino’s wine bar and bistro, which is next to the restaurant and recently underwent a £85,000 refit, is also up for sale.

At the moment, the restaurant is only open from Wednesdays to Saturdays because they do not want to put their health at risk any further. Mr Lloyd said the restaurant has seen many famous faces over the years. The business is up for sale for £599,999 with estate agents Preferred Commercial and also includes ten bedsits on the floors above the restaurant.

Chez Giovanni was first set up in 1972 by Giovanni Gulotta and his wife Anna, who were originally from Sicily.

Mr Lloyd said he and his wife, who have been married for 41 years and have three children, were the restaurant’s first ever customers.

They had a soft spot for Chez Giovanni ever since then, he said.

And they bought it from their friend, businessman Max Sadano, in 2001.

It has won a clutch of awards in the city. It has won the Voice magazine’s best Italian restaurant competition for eight years running, and in October was given the Best Restaurant of the Year title.