Thursday September 25th 2025
Giancarlo's Italian Restaurant, East Lothian
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Social media footage of customers drinking and dancing on the chairs of an Italian restaurant during a ‘boozy brunch’ sparked concern from licensing chiefs after it was claimed to have taken place while the eaterie was unlicensed.
Natasha Scott, formerly known as Natasha Pacitti who runs La Trattoria , in Tranent High Street, insisted no alcohol had been sold at the restaurant after she was told its temporary drink licence had ended.
But she admitted she had not paid enough attention to the restaurant’s Facebook page saying images of cocktails available and footage of events where drinks appeared to be served were outdated and did not take place while it was unlicensed.
She told a meeting of East Lothian Licensing Board: “I have a social media company I pay £800 a month to to put things up and I did not think about it.
“I realise I should have paid more attention, these are generic posts.”
The board’s licensing standards officer said that it came to light Ms Scott’s restaurant was serving alcohol earlier this month after the occasional licences granted had run out and she had been unaware of the issue. She told the officer she would stop serving alcohol until new licences had been granted and put in applications for them which were presented to the board.
However the licensing standards officer told the board that an anonymous source had contacted her over the weekend to say an event called ‘Boozebrunch’ had been held at the restaurant on Saturday, September 20.
The officer told the board a search of social media found the event being advertised with a glass of prosecco and three cocktails included in the offer while she had found no commentary suggesting it had been changed to a Bring Your Own Bottle event ahead of the weekend,
She said: “I asked our comms team to search social media and there were photographs and videos of alcohol being advertised and consumed on the premises at an event.
“Video appears to show the restaurant at capacity with patrons consuming wine and what appears to be prosecco. There appears to be the entertainment and included in pictures and videos show patrons dancing on chairs and this is something I would discourage at any premises in relation to safety of patrons.”
However a representative for Ms Scott, said she was confident she could prove to police who are investigating an alleged breach of licensing that no alcohol was served and the footage was from previous events when the restaurant was fully licensed.
He urged the board not to consider the reports of any alleged breach at the weekend pointing out it was an ongoing investigation and members should wait for the outcome before drawing an view.
Following an adjournment board members were split over approving the occasional licences by two votes each with board chairperson Lachlan Bruce granting the application with his deciding vote.
He told Ms Scott: “I am concerned by what (allegedly) happened on Saturday and I am sure Police Scotland will get to the bottom of it and, if necessary, we will consider any outcome.
“What we are considering today is the occasional licences and I will support the application.”
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