A CITY centre shop unit has been sold following the closure of an independent patisserie which shut just months after opening.

Bella's Patisserie in Sir Isaac's Walk was opened by Isabela Maria, 27, back in April and initial responses were highly positive of the new venture.

However, after three months Ms Maria started scaling down the shop after complications arose with her pregnancy, ultimately putting the business up for sale in July for £42,500.

Ms Maria said she also found it difficult to recruit kitchen staff to cover for her, despite offering a rate of £14 per hour.

She said: “We closed because I was pregnant – I had to spend a lot of time in bed and the doctor said I couldn't do anything.

Gazette: Selection – Ms Maria's entremets proved very popular with customers when the business first openedSelection – Ms Maria's entremets proved very popular with customers when the business first opened (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Gazette: Sad - Bella's Patisserie in Sir Isaac's Walk was opened by Isabela Maria, 27, back in AprilSad - Bella's Patisserie in Sir Isaac's Walk was opened by Isabela Maria, 27, back in April (Image: Public)

“We decided to save the pregnancy over the business, because we were prepared to do anything to save our son.

“People might say ‘why did you get pregnant?’ but things like this are the course of life.”

Ms Maria, who gave birth to a healthy baby boy two months ago, said her husband had been putting in hours outside his full-time job to keep the business running, such was their determination to keep the patisserie afloat.

“We couldn’t find reliable people to work there – my husband was working full time and then doing everything he could to help out," added Ms Maria.

“We offered one person a job working in the kitchen for £14 per hour but they refused, and we couldn’t afford to pay any more.”

Ms Maria has now heaped praise on her husband, Florin, for all his support.

Gazette: Sold – the business unit for Bella's Patisserie has been finalised, Ms Maria has saidSold – the business unit for Bella's Patisserie has been finalised, Ms Maria has said (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

She added: “I think he is more devastated than I am – he did so much to help put the business together.

“He is a very good husband.”

There is still a sense of pride for Ms Maria, however, who said the business had started well in the early weeks.

She said: “The business made a good start; had the pregnancy gone smoothly I would have been able to do more.

“If I could have worked more, it would really have been thriving.

“Hopefully, one day, we will be able to do it all again.”