Bangers and mash in Outer Mongolia?

An Englishman has opened a restaurant in Ulan Bator in Outer Mongolia, one of the most isolated capital cities on earth.

Churchill's, a restaurant offering English food behind a mock-Tudor facade in a country where many people live in tents, will be operated by master baker Barrie Evans.

The 20 staff will all be locals, but waitresses will wear English-style uniforms of black dress, pinafore and hats.

Evans, who went to Mongolia on an EU technical assistance programme, came up with the idea of the restaurant with a Mongolian friend he met at the Ulan Bator Rotary Club.

"There is a strong liking for English language and culture here," he said.

Customers are likely to include the expatriate community of about 2000 Europeans, Australians, Americans, Russians, Koreans and other Asians.

Evans admitted that constructing the restaurant, which is in the building of a Stalinist sewing factory, had been difficult because local builders operate without basic equipment such as spirit levels. The bar slopes sharply because of its installation and has been nicknamed "the Titanic". The windows have already broken because untreated window frames dried out and cracked the glass.

But Evans is still optimistic about the future and hopes to open the 50-seat restaurant this week. English sausages should be available and diners will be able to end their meal with an espresso, something of a luxury in Mongolia.

"I am of course quite mad," said Evans.