Fabrizio Necchi took over The Corner Café in 1964 from his Father-in-Law Giuseppe (Joe) Birnie when he married Joe’s daughter Monica. Despite some occasional grumbling from Mr Birnie, Fabrizio and Monica were able to restore the original name and make La Lombarda’s their own, running the destination restaurant in the Castlegate for over thirty years.

Fabrizio became the Italian Honorary Consulate in Aberdeen but is retired now, splitting his time between the Northeast and his native Italy. He’s sad to see the changes in the Castlegate since those early days, but is happy to be leaving the restaurant under his own daughter’s care.