THE twin chefs behind Newport’s Italian restaurant Gemelli’s are hoping to transform a former nursing home into a boutique hotel complete with “gold-plated cutlery”.

Restaurateur brothers Sergio and Pasquale Cinotti have bought Rothbury House in Stow Park Circle, Newport, with the vision of turning it into a classy hotel and food academy - despite opposition from residents.

The £350,000 Grade II listed building dates from the 1800s when it was a majestic private home, before more recently being used as a nursing home.

The house, which has rooms arranged over three floors, closed in 2009 before being sold to the Cinotti brothers in September last year.

Planning permission has already been granted to turn the historic building into flats, but Pasquale Cinotti said that would be "a shame" and he has a grander vision which could see the character and history of the house preserved.

Mr Cinotti said: “The idea is to open a boutique hotel which holds culinary classes as part of a fine dining food school.

“Surely people want to see that building kept as it is, it’s a valuable listed building and we could keep its original features by making it a boutique hotel.

“It could be a little gem in the area and we intend to bring back the building to its former full glory”.

Mr Cinotti said the hotel could bring a “huge financial benefit” to the area and create 32 jobs.

The two Italians have submitted a planning application to Newport City Council to change the use of the building, but residents have submitted more than 16 objections to the proposal following a meeting earlier this month.

Resident Brian Langley, who lives on Stow Park Circle, called the proposal “ludicrous” and said traffic, commercial deliveries, disturbance, anti-social behaviour, signs and smells would all adversely affect the residents’ quality of life.

Mr Langley said in his objection: “I think you have to dismiss the application immediately and propose they site their commercial operation somewhere more fitting like a shopping precinct and not a residential area.”

Mary Owen, also of Stow Park Circle, said being so close to the Registry Office, she fears the proposed hotel would be “an ideal venue for wedding receptions which inevitably involve drinking and music”.

But Mr Cinotti said he is aware of residents’ concerns and wants to send the message the development will not disturb the quietness.

“We don’t want a rowdy place, that’s not our style anyway. We want it to be a very high class standard with rooms around £300 a night. Gold-plated cutlery and very soft piano and harp music playing in the background, that kind of thing.”

If the application for the hotel is declined, Mr Cinotti said he will consider turning the building into flats. He said: “If it comes to it, that’s what we have to do. But what a shame to have a building like that which people could go and visit.” The application will be considered at the next planning meeting.