Bar Venezia

Bar Venezia is the original trading name of what is now known as Venezia Exeter, an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and licensed bar located on Exeter's historic Quayside beside the River Exe in Devon, United Kingdom. According to the restaurant's own account, it began as Bar Venezia at a time when very few people in Exeter were familiar with authentic Italian cuisine, and it describes itself as having pioneered the romance associated with Italian dining in the UK. In its early days it operated more like a traditional pizza house with a limited offering of antipasti and other items, before gradually expanding its menu to include daily specials, pastas, seafood and meat dishes as its popularity grew. The business is closely associated with Medhat Awad, who joined Venezia Exeter in 1998 as a managing partner from a hotel and catering background. He had previously worked for eight years in a number of London's big five-star hotels, including The Hilton, Sheraton and Ramada, and was involved in the opening of the Coppid Beech Hotel and Dry Sky Centre in Bracknell. He later moved to Devon while assisting with the running of the Old Manor House Hotel and Golf Club, now known as The Bovey Castle. In 2003 he became the sole owner of Venezia Exeter and transformed it from a cafe into a full a la carte Mediterranean restaurant with a fully licensed bar open until 2:30am, a Salsa and Latin Dance Club every Sunday, and the addition of Cafe Baba, a Middle Eastern cafe offering fruit sheesha, mint tea and Arabic coffee. Today Venezia Exeter presents itself as a go-to Italian and Mediterranean restaurant on Exeter's Quayside, serving handmade pasta, home-baked pizzas, fresh seafood and vibrant cocktails, and hosting live music nights. The venue also runs various themed events on a regular basis, promoted through its website's What's On section, mailing list and Facebook page. The restaurant offers downloadable menus including a main menu, bar drinks and a Christmas menu, and accepts table bookings. Bar Venezia is a private, independently owned hospitality business rather than a listed company or a large chain. Its identity is tied to a single location in Exeter, and its history reflects the growth of Italian dining culture in the UK from a niche interest to a mainstream part of the restaurant scene. The name Bar Venezia remains the origin point of the brand, which has since evolved into the broader Venezia Exeter restaurant, bar and events venue.

Bar Venezia began as the original trading name of what is now Venezia Exeter, an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant on Exeter's historic Quayside by the River Exe. According to the restaurant's own history, it started at a time when very few people in Exeter knew the taste and authenticity of Italian cuisine, and neither Farfalle, Fusilli nor Rigatoni were commonly heard of or available in UK stores. In its early phase the business operated more like a traditional pizza house with a limited offering of antipasti and other items. As popularity and demand increased, it gradually added daily specials, pastas, seafood and meat dishes to its existing menu, becoming a hit with locals and visitors alike and a preferred dining destination for people in Exeter and the surrounding area. A turning point came in 1998 when Medhat Awad joined Venezia Exeter as a Managing Partner. He came from a hotel and catering background, having worked for eight years in a number of London's big five-star hotels such as The Hilton, Sheraton and Ramada, as well as the opening of the famous Coppid Beech Hotel and Dry Sky Centre in Bracknell. He then moved to Devon while assisting with the running of the Old Manor House Hotel and Golf Club, now known as The Bovey Castle. In 2003 Awad became the sole owner of Venezia Exeter and set about transforming it from just a cafe into a full a la carte Mediterranean restaurant. Under his ownership the venue added a fully licensed bar open until 2:30am, a Salsa and Latin Dance Club every Sunday, and Cafe Baba, a Middle Eastern cafe for sampling fruit sheesha, mint tea and Arabic coffee. Various themed events have since run on a regular basis, promoted through the restaurant's What's On section, mailing list and Facebook page. In its current form, Venezia Exeter presents itself as a go-to Italian and Mediterranean restaurant on Exeter's Quayside, offering handmade pasta, home-baked pizzas, fresh seafood and vibrant cocktails alongside live music nights. It provides downloadable menus including a main menu, bar drinks and a Christmas menu, and invites customers to book a table. The brand's evolution from Bar Venezia to Venezia Exeter reflects both the growth of Italian dining culture in the UK and the personal trajectory of its owner, who moved from London's luxury hotel sector to running an independent hospitality business in Devon.

• 2003

  Medhat Awad becomes sole owner and transforms the venue from a cafe into a full a la carte Mediterranean restaurant.

• 1998

  Medhat Awad joins Venezia Exeter as Managing Partner.

• Bar Venezia opens as a traditional pizza house with a limited offering of antipasti and other items.

• Fully licensed bar open until 2:30am, Sunday Salsa & Latin Dance Club, and Cafe Baba Middle Eastern cafe are added.

An independent Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and licensed bar on Exeter's historic Quayside, presenting itself as a pioneer of authentic Italian dining in the UK.

• Handmade pasta

• Home-baked pizzas

• Fresh seafood

• Cocktails

• Antipasti

• Daily specials

• Meat dishes

• Fruit sheesha

• Mint tea

• Arabic coffee

1. 1Venezia Exeter | Best Italian Restaurant in Exeter | Book Your Table Todayvenezia-exeter.com
2. 2About Us | Exeter | Venezia Exetervenezia-exeter.com
3. 3Bar Veneziawikidata.org