COMPANY bosses have said the Nardini's cafe in Largs is safe - despite other branches carrying the famous name being closed down.

The News was told this week that the Largs operation is 'not under threat' after Nardini's Cafe in Byres Road in Glasgow was shut with immediate effect earlier this month.

The West End cafe operation was part of the chain which took over Nardini's in Largs in 2008, offering ice cream, coffees and fine dining, keeping alive the famous seaside cafe's name.

The Glasgow unit has been put up 'to let' and a poster announcing an upcoming refurbishment has been taken down.

In recent years, the chain had also opened Nardini's premises in Edinburgh and St Andrews as part of the firm's expansion plans, but they have also since closed.

A spokeswoman for the company told the News: "The other operations in Edinburgh and St Andrew's have closed but this has no effect on the future of the Largs establishment.

"We are looking forward to another busy summer season once more at Largs."

After falling into administration leading to a three year closure, Nardini's re-opened in 2009 after being taking over by a consortium including David Equi of the award-winning Equi's Ice Cream, and Sep Marini, who ran a number of fish and chips enterprises in the west and central belt in Scotland.

The ice cream parlour and art-deco cafe is one of the most recognisable establishments of its kind in Scotland after being originally opened by the Nardini family in 1935.

The recent closure in Byres Road followed a planning dispute with Glasgow City Council.

The ice cream cafeteria opened in Glasgow in April 2012 but the property is now available to let with Glasgow-based property consultants Syme.

Sporting the same decorative art deco style design and livery as the main cafe on Largs seafront, the branch had a bright and classic 1960s’ feel and sold a full array of ice creams and delicacies.