Offering an increased rent of 15% of their turnover, Mr Vergine said True North Brew Co had offered more, which he believes worked out to about £20,000 a year.
“All of this chaos, ultimately destroying a family’s finances, was done over £20,000 over a year. It’s mind-boggling,” he said.
The council said the bar in Market Kitchen was a “key part” of The Glass Works, a landmark leisure and shopping destination in the town centre.
“The tender process included a range of assessment criteria including the quality of the customer experience, pricing strategy and offering value for money to customers, and how they would work together with other vendors in Market Kitchen, the Market and The Glass Works,” a council spokesperson said.
A number of applicants from local and regional businesses had applied during the process, which they maintained was “fair and transparent”, they added.
Mr Vergine praised his staff for their work since 2019.
“One of my staff was crying and said ‘I can’t believe Cucina has gone’, and I said ‘it hasn’t, because half of it is equipment, the intangible part of Cucina which has never gone and will never go, is you guys’. They are Cucina,” he added.
The bar, which is currently closed, is due reopen “as soon as possible” under True North Brew Co, the council added.
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