Hartlepool's former Marco Polo restaurant to be auctioned off, piece by piece

The Marco Polo restaurant in York Road, Hartlepool, closed last year after 15 years.

A new business had planned to take over the building from owner Darab Rezai, but the deal unexpectedly fell through.

Now Mr Rezai is to auction off the contents in a public event on Wednesday.

He said: “I was approached by a potential new buyer and moved my staff to The Conservatory on the marina.

“But when it didn’t go ahead I ended up with a closed restaurant.

“I was very sad to see it close, a lot of people have got nice memories. We held weddings, engagements and quite a few people proposed in Marco Polo.

“Everything from the chandeliers to the lamps and a lot of things we had specially made are all going in the sale.”
The auction will be conducted by Lithgow auctioneers of Stokesley at noon on Wednesday.

A public viewing will be held from 10am.

Among the lots available to the highest bidder will be artwork, Italian light fittings and locally-made wrought iron items.

Mr Rezai is also offering to support any potential occupiers who want to set up a new venture in the former restaurant.

“I’m hoping to find someone who wants to be their own boss or have their own business,” said Mr Rezai. “I would start them up. I don’t want a property which is going to be empty and closed in the area.”

Italian Marco Polo opened its doors in 2000 after Mr Rezai converted a former garage, flower shop and newsagent into one building.

He held a similar auction last year after Zeus nightclub, another of his businesses, closed in Whitby Street.

Mr Rezai blamed the closure of Zeus on the wide availability of cheap alcohol in shops and supermarkets.