Chef Stephen Markwick, whose fine-dining restaurant was a fixture on the Bristol restaurant scene for 13 years, is planning to open a neighbourhood bistro/take-away in the city later this month.
Three weeks ago, Markwick and his wife Judy bought the 68-seat Red Snapper restaurant in Chandos Road from chef John Raines, who Markwick says hopes to move to Plymouth to enjoy some fishing and possibly set up a fish-smoking business.
Markwick sold his Corn Street restaurant, Markwicks, some 18 months ago to Indian businessmen Hardev and Gurdip Singh, who have renamed the restaurant The Lords but retained much of its style and ambience.
Markwick said that his new restaurant, which is to be called Culinaria, will mark a clean break from his last one, offering a simpler and cheaper menu.
"Twenty-five years ago, we started as a bistro in Bristol," he said, "so we are returning to our roots."