THREE empty premises in Hereford are being given a new lease of life as an urban eatery, kitchen and bar, and pub reopen.

The Little Bridge Kitchen and Bar opened today in Bridge Street with sister and brother duo, Cindy Thomas, 40, and Glen Baker, 43 at the helm.

They also run a cafe called Caffe No 21 in Ledbury but wanted to open something in Hereford too as they both live in the city, so refurbished empty retail space.

Cindy said: "We do a lot of Mediterranean food but we do a mixed menu. We are pitching ourselves mid market.

"We focus on seasonal, quality local produce. We use people like Peter Cooks Bread and Fabrice's in Bromsberrow."

While Nicola Hassenpflug, 36, has opened Sensory and Rye in the place of the former Rowberry & Son butchers in Commercial Street.

It will be open late on a Wednesday until 9pm and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nicola said: "I call it an urban eatery because cafe/ restaurant, nothing else fits. My background is urban design - I was a landscape architect. The term urban is quite meaningful to me. Hereford is a city and it seemed to fit."

She always wanted to open her own place. Her career took her on a slightly different path and as a landscape architect she worked on the Olympic village in London and Cribbs Causeway in Bristol.

Sensory and Rye is fully licensed and will serve coffee, craft beers/ciders, breakfast, brunch, lunch, casual dinners and snacks.

Nicola added: "All of the independent places opening up over the last couple of years are so amazing. Having been to the Indie Food Festival- that was beautiful. I couldn't wait at the time to be part of the indie food scene in Hereford. I think it is amazing. The products and the food locally are fantastic."

And in January The Grapes pub in East Street will be reopening. It has been closed since April.

Sonia Caldwell said: "We are an Irish couple with plenty of ideas and ambitions. We will be reopening for January and supplying great pints of Guinness and good traditional English/Irish food- hoping to get fireside trad sessions going, great music and bring the Grapes alive again."