Outdoors platform permit for Serkin

Rabat’s most famous pastizzi parlour has been granted a permit for a 23 sq.m. platform, to be developed along 9m of pavement on the parking spaces in front of the establishment.

Crystal Palace’s (Serkin) platform will make space for four outside tables, but will result in the loss of two parking spaces.

The application was approved by the Government Property Division but was not recommended by the National Commission for Persons with Disability. The Planning Authority’s case officer however argued that since the platform was flush with the public pavement “accessibility from the outside catering area to the main entrance door of the catering establishment is not hindered.”

The proposal conforms with the Policy, Guidance and Standards for Outdoor Catering Areas on Public Spaces approved last year.

Some fame for Serkin came after prime ministers Charles Michel of Belgium, Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, Miro Cerar of Slovenia, and their partners were hosted by Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle during a Council summit.

For PN executive president Ann Fenech however, the pastizzi snack was ill advised and the choice of venue “common and crude”. Inundated with criticism on the social media, Fenech later apologised and posted a photo of herself at the snack bar with Freddie Ciangura, father of Crystal Palace owner Kenneth, eating ‘humble’ cheesecake.