Bristol Brazz opens as Chapman's third

Kit Chapman is opening his third Brazz restaurant, in Bristol, on 9 May.

Chapman, owner of the Brazz restaurant group, said his company was also aiming to raise £2m with a new offer of shares, to finance further expansion.

The money will be used to turn a site in Cardiff city centre into a Brazz, which is expected to open later this year. Sites are also being sought in west London and the Home Counties.

The 130-seat Bristol restaurant was formerly a Hullabaloo's restaurant in the city's Clifton area.

Brazz paid £715,000 for the freehold on the listed building in January.

It has since invested £750,000 in refurbishing the restaurant and has sold long leases on three flats above, which were included in the purchase.

Head chef will be Andrew Turner, who comes to Bristol after cooking at Sydney Opera House.

He will be aided by consultant chef Richard Guest, who runs the restaurant at Chapman's Castle hotel in Taunton, Somerset.

by Ben Walker