Tributes paid to Brighton Donatello founder Pietro Addis

Pietro Addis, who founded the popular Donatello and Pinocchio’s venues in The Lanes and North Laine in Brighton, died on Tuesday after a battle with dementia.

The Italian-born businessman arrived in the city in 1975, and soon became a well-known personality thanks to his passion for food and his generous nature.

Pietro Addis

Pietro, alongside his former wife Sue, gave thousands of pounds to charity, including to The Argus appeal, with every penny going to good causes in the city.

His son Mikele Addis said: “Myself and my brothers, Leonardo and Stefano, are extremely proud of him and what he built.

“Even though he was so, so dedicated to his business, he was dedicated very much to the three of us, and still to my mum.

Pietro Addis and Katie Price

“He was a great dad and a great grandfather who loved his grandchildren very, very much.

“He took very good care of us and set us up very well for our futures.”

Born in 1939 on the island of Sardinia, Pietro moved to the UK in his early twenties and spent 13 years working at the Italian Embassy in London, promoting his country's food and wine.

Sue and Pietro Addis with Eastenders actress Michelle Collins

Mikele, 43, said his dad decided to move to Brighton because he saw the city as “the place to be” and a city with a significant business potential.

Pietro opened the Market Winehouse in Brighton in 1967, before launching Topolino in Hove - the city's first Italian restaurant - and Peter's in the Lanes.

But things really took off in 1988 when he and Sue opened Pinocchio in New Road, Brighton and Donatello in Brighton Place in 1990.

Leo, Mikele and Pietro Addis

Mikele said: “From the moment he opened Donatello it was very popular. It was his pride and joy.

“He felt honoured that it became such a success, and you could see that on his face. It was his life.”

The restaurant became popular with celebrities and politicians alike, with famous faces including Katie Price, EastEnders star Michelle Collins and Tony and Cherie Blair, becoming regulars.

In 2004, Pietro handed over the running of his venues to Sue and their three sons.

Mikele said his dad remained close to his mum Sue, until her death on January 7, 2021.

He said: “They were close business partners, so really you credit them both equally on how successful the business became, and they stayed such close business partners.

“They also raised me, Stef and Leo at the same time. They were a great team, and they were very close until she passed away.

“They were almost like husband and wife, even though they weren’t together.”

A funeral for Pietro is to be held at The Downs Crematorium on Friday, March 25 at 4pm.

Mikele said he would like as many people as possible to addend and say their goodbyes to his father.