An empty Newcastle city centre restaurant is being transformed into a sun-kissed Spanish eaterie set to open within weeks.
And the owners of Cafe Andaluz have released images to show how the makeover of the former Carluccio’s site into the tapas bar and restaurant will look.
Cafe Andaluz – which forms part of Glasgow-based The DRG group – first signed up for the site of the old Natwest bank and, latterly, the Carluccio’s restaurant in Newcastle’s Grey Street at the start of the year.
The property has been closed since failing to form part of a partial rescue deal for the Italian chain brokered last year.
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Cafe Andaluz already runs five restaurants across Scotland, serving up popular Spanish dishes, tapas and wines, and the company is now expanding outside of its heartland to open in Newcastle this October, creating 60 jobs.
The company pledges to recreate “dining out in your favourite Andalusian restaurant”, bringing a trip to Spain back on the cards for North East diners.
The Grey Street first visuals show the brand’s trademark mosaic tiling, heavy mahogany Moorish style tables and outsize lantern lighting.
Booths will run along the double height windows and a cocktail bar features in the main restaurant too.
On the first floor, a private dining room comes complete with a private bar and curved booth following the rounded corner profile of the historic building.
The room can host groups from 30 to 60 for private events and celebrations.
The menu boasts a mix of pinchitos morunos, gambas pil pil and butifarra negra, alongside sharing paellas, sharing sangrias and churros.
The restaurant is part of the DRG portfolio, which operates more than 20 restaurants across Scotland.
Tony Conetta of the DRG said: “This is an exciting new chapter for us all.
“Grey Street is a fantastic location and when the old NatWest building became available, we had to make a move.
"A lot of people will know the brand from trips to Edinburgh and now can enjoy the best Spanish Tapas closer to home."
The restaurant plans to open its doors in October and has a page on its website for keeping up to date on developments and reservations.
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