A ONCE-LOVED Austrian restaurant in Leigh has been sold for almost £1million and will re-open as an Italian restaurant.

There was much speculation about what would become of the Old Vienna, in Eastwood Road, Leigh, but it has been revealed to the Echo that the restaurant will undergo a full refurbishment after being bought by a “local businesswoman and author.”

The landmark venue was put on the market a couple of months ago after it closed down earlier this year after a string of hygiene failures.

Mike Gray, managing director of Dedman Gray, said: “Whilst a large number of the enquires were from residential developers considering the site for a block of flats it is such good news to see this landmark dining and function venue will still offer these facilities for many years to come.

“It is planned for the Old Vienna to be closed for the rest of this year but it won’t be long before people can once again enjoy dining from this long-standing restaurant.”

He said the building will have a new lease of life with all the plans the new owners have.

Mr Gray continued: “Whilst various offers were made from different parties the final price it sold for was just under £1million. The buyer is going to do a complete refurbishment programme inside and out with a target of opening early next year.”

The new owner, who doesn’t wish to reveal her identity just yet, added: “We are now looking at what needs to be done on site. We hope to open early 2017 as an Italian based restaurant.”

The Old Vienna opened in 1971 and was once popular with its food and “oompah” bands.

Former owner Walter Haiser, who was slapped with a £60,000 fine for ignoring hygiene rules, is pleased to hear that the premises will continue to be a restaurant.

He said: “After all these years of running one of the area’s well-known restaurant venues I am so pleased to learn that the purchaser will be carrying out a refurbishment programme and continuing to run the premises as a fine dining restaurant.”