By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 11:44, Saturday, 09 January 2010

A Carlisle restaurant will be serving up a new look later this month following a refurbishment.

James Hill

Bijou owner James Hill, who has worked under Gordon Ramsay, said a recent inheritance and money from the business meant he could now have the look he wanted after opening two-and-a-half years ago.

The city centre eaterie, in Carlyle Court, off Fisher Street, will close next Sunday so James can get new furniture, lighting and a sound system.

“We’ve owned it for three years and, as with any business when it first opens, money was tight and we weren’t able to do what we wanted,” he said.

“We’ve now got the chance to do things we really wanted – the atmosphere in the evenings wasn’t quite right but we’re getting better lighting and a surround sound system.

“It will still continue to serve coffee and pastries in the mornings but will offer a proper lunch menu.”

James is trying to move away from the perception of Bijou being a cafe during the day – it’s predecessor was a busy cafe The Chattery – and hopes the refurbishment will mean it looks more like a “restaurant that serves coffee” than a cafe.

“We will still serve coffee and pastries until midday – I’m getting a new pastry chef – and then it will be a lunchtime restaurant.

“I want to serve more Cumbrian produce on the menu – we’ll be using olives from a company near Penrith and Cumbrian smoked salmon, pushing the Cumbrian brand.

“We’ve got the best local produce in Britain in this county.”

James, who worked for Ramsay for six months at The Connaught Hotel in London after winning a scholarship, admitted it had been a difficult year.

“It’s been hard for everyone,” he said.

“But we’ve held our own and things can only go up.”

He said the restaurant will reopen to the public from Saturday, January 23 with a special Burns supper evening on January 24.

Bijou is open during the day six days a week, and in the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“Carlisle is a weekend city,” James added.

“It doesn’t lend itself to us opening in the evening during the week.”

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 09 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk