Chapel Allerton restaurant Casa Mia offers Pedego electric bike tours with a culinary twist

The decision made to use the terrace area in front of Casa Mia to promote the Pedego bikes sold through the family's second business has brought in a whole new set of customers and transformed the restaurant itself now it is set up for socially distanced dining.

Francesco Mazzella is the European distributor for US electric bike company Pedego, while his wife Marta runs the family's popular Italian eatery in Chapel Allerton.

The restaurant initially closed altogether in line with Government advice but soon set up a coffee stand offering collections and began to deliver a selection of customer favourites.

Francesco said: "Bike shops were allowed to open so we looked at the terrace outside and thought we've got a perfect place for a bike shop. We took away the tables, removed the signs and we were busy from day one."

While the easing of lockdown measures means customers of the restaurant can sit inside again, the need to be socially distant has forced a significant reduction in capacity from more than 100 people down to around 25.

But another dose of creative thinking has turned the new layout and measures into a talking point all of its own.

"The bike is the model social distancing vehicle so we put a bike between each table," Francesco said. "The reaction from customers has been brilliant.

"The regular customers are so thrilled. They said the bikes look so beautiful. They're like an art installation."

As well as offering the chance to hire and buy electric bikes out of the Chapel Allerton venue, the two businesses have also teamed up to design a series of cycling tours.

One day-long tour takes participants along the canal to Rothwell before visits to a local vineyard and the Temple Newsam estate. From there, it is back to Casa Mia for a pasta masterclass and a three-course meal.

"It's an amazing event," Francesco said. "The comments we're getting from people on the tour, they're absolutely ecstatic about it."

Other tours set to be offered include a ride out to Harewood with a picnic and a sunset tour taking in Eccup reservoir before drinks and nibbles back at the restaurant.

Francesco said: "The beautiful thing about electric bikes is the riders feel like kids again. They feel like they've got the energy of a 19-year-old.

"Leeds is really hilly. Without the electric bike, unless you're really fit, you'll struggle."

As word of the combined business model spreads, there have been enquiries from other restaurants in West Yorkshire and beyond who are looking for ways to ensure they can still make a livelihood while customer capacity is limited.

Francesco added: "People have seen what we've done and want to convert their eatery into a bike shop."

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