Popular Italian restaurant changes name after copyright feud

A Sale restaurant has changed its name after becoming embroiled in a legal dispute with a Glasgow-based restaurant over the use of its name. 

© SUD Pasta

Sugo Pasta Kitchen has announced via social media today that it will be known as ‘Sud Pasta’. 

In an Instagram post, Sud Pasta owners Michael and Alex De Martiis wrote: 

"Same us. Same mission. Same pasta kitchen

From today our new name will be Sud Pasta.

We're aware that we can't stop any speculation, however, all we'll say is that our home is in the kitchen, not the boardroom. 

We love our new name.

We love what it stands for.

We love our "a southern Italian pasta kitchen"

By the way, Sud means 'south' in Italian.

More importantly, we've got a brand new menu format starting in March. 

The Sud pasta spring menu. 

Love, light & appreciation

Michael & Alex

The ‘speculation’ they refer to is the ongoing tussle they have had in recent years with a Glasgow-based restaurant called Sugo Pasta. In December 2019, the Manchester-based restaurant, which has other sites in Altrincham and Ancoats, posted on Instagram explaining the situation, including the statement: 

“The crazy thing here is your boys @sugopastaglasgow (the guys behind @paesanopizzaglasgow) are trying to sue us for using our own name, crazy world we live in eh!”

Although the Glasgow-based restaurant initially hit back with a post of its own explaining its side of the story, that post has since been deleted. 

But what’s in a name anyway? As long as Sud Pasta continue to deliver their usual food standards, we can’t imagine customers will be too bothered about the name change (although it might take them a while to get used to it!) 

Oh, and for super fans of the restaurant’s ‘House Sugo’ dish, do not fret – Sud Pasta has confirmed that it will remain on the menu and keep its original name!