Côte to open its first restaurant in north of England

French-style bistro chain Côte is set to open a new resturant in York in June.

The site will be the first in the north of England for the chain, which now has around 40 restaurants in the south, Midlands and Wales.

The York 100-cover site, at 49 Low Petergate, formerly Cafe Veranda, will employ around 40 people.

A Cote spokesperson said: "We are excited opening in York and have been wanting to open there for some time now and we have now found the right site, a stone throw away from York Minster on Low Petergate.

"In addition, we are looking in many towns throughout the UK, including other towns and cities in the York area."

Côte was founded in 2007, with its first site in Wimbledon.

It is thought the business is close to being acquired by a private equity buyer after backer Richard Caring put it up for sale late last year.

The company is expected to fetch somewhere in the region of £120m and managing directors Harald Samuelsson and Alex Scrimgeour are likely to remain at the helm.