A RESTAURANT chain is cooking up a plan to open up a new restaurant in Tetbury.

Mezze Restaurants, which currently has six restaurants under its belt, has identified the town and Clevedon as new sites for expansion in 2014.

The West Country group’s plans for the new restaurants form part of its overall objective of operating 20 venues across the region within the next five-years.

Alex Tryfonos, Mezze Director, said: “While 28 pubs across the country are closing their doors every week, we at Mezze are trying to buck this trend and guarantee the future of these great old community pubs.

“With our significant investment into failing pubs, we are helping to turn around their futures and secure their place as the social hub of their local community.

“We are confident that we will be able to announce the venue locations in Clevedon and Tetbury within a matter of weeks and hope to open both sites this year.”

Latest figures by ale campaign group, Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) reveal that 28 pubs are closing every week, an increase of two a week since last year.

But a spokesman for Mezze Restaurants says in contrast it is securing the future of empty and derelict pubs across the region.

Mezze has not identified the site of its new restaurant.

The plans to open a restaurant in Tetbury follow the 2013 openings at The Anchor, Ham Green, in May and The White Lion, Portishead, in July, both revitalised through significant financial investment.

The family-owned Mezze Restaurants chain is renowned for its range of dishes from the Mediterranean, The Middle East, Morocco and Spain, and its full A la Carte menu.

Its other outlets include The Green Dragon in Downend, The Royal George in Thornbury, The Warwick Arms in Clutton and The Ship & Castle in Congresbury.

For more information visit www.mezzerestaurants.com or call Alex Tryfonos on free-phone 08081782045