Simon Cowell latest celebrity to back popular London restaurant in noise row

Music mogul Simon Cowell has become the latest celebrity to offer backing to a renowned Italian west London restaurant following a series of noise complaints.The Britain’s Got Talent judge has come out in support of La Famiglia in Chelsea, which he said is one his “favourite restaurants in the world”.The restrictions could see its outdoor dining area closed hours earlier than at present.La Famiglia, a Tuscan-style Italian restaurant that is said to have been beloved by Princess Diana, was established in 1974 by Alvaro Maccioni, a figure touted as the Godfather of Italian cuisine.The aggrieved neighbour, according to The Times, is 34-year-old venture capitalist Francesco Perticarari, who started renting a £2million property in the area in November 2024.La Famiglia in Chelsea opened in 1974Stuart PearceLiving in a property connected to the venue, the resident said the sound from the establishment is keeping his young family awake at night. He has claimed that the canopy covering the garden area has "no acoustic insulation".Despite the complaints, 247 individuals have backed the popular city restaurant ahead of its official licence review. As well as Cowell, Clapton and Broccoli, Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, Made in Chelsea star Rosie Fortescue and MasterChef host Anna Haugh are also among those to have written to Kensington and Chelsea Council in support of La Famiglia.In a letter of support, Cowell said La Famiglia was "genuinely one of [his] favourite restaurants in the world".La Famiglia is facing potential restrictions on its outdoor areaGoogle MapsHe wrote: "Stating the obvious, this is London. And if they are forced into changing the garden opening hours this will have a massive impact on the business and potentially close down one of the most beautiful, iconic restaurants in the UK."Clapton, a solo artist and lead figure in bands like Cream and Derek and the Dominos, wrote that his family had been visiting the restaurant for more than 30 years. He said that to “strip away or heavily restrict the terrace would destroy the very soul and fantastic atmosphere of this lovely restaurant”.Kensington and Chelsea’s Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to review the restaurant’s licence on Tuesday after an application was brought by the neighbour. Read MoreThe hearing was adjourned to allow venue representatives to attend at a later date.A report presented to the sub-committee indicates that the application for a licence review received support from the council’s Environmental Noise Team.Guitar player Eric Clapton said he has been visiting La Famiglia for 30 yearsPA ArchiveThe team requested that the council place a restriction on La Famiglia’s licence requiring the venue to close its outdoor garden several hours earlier than it currently does, at 9pm.Following a string of noise complaints, the council’s Environmental Health department served Ms Marietta Maccioni, who runs the eatery, with a noise abatement notice on October 7, 2025.Ms Maccioni subsequently received a £400 fine in July 2026 for allegedly breaching the notice.A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesman said: "The committee decided that it was important to have the opportunity to hear directly from the applicant and ask questions of them, and all other parties, before reaching a decision."We recognise the strength of feeling about this case and appreciate the time people took to attend the hearing. “The hearing will be rescheduled, with a new date confirmed as soon as possible. We thank everyone for their understanding."