THE owner of a popular town restaurant is branching out and hoping to open a new tapas and cocktail lounge in an empty shop space.

Darren Leonard opened No 3 in Gloucester Road in Ross-on-Wye in June 2015 and has been overwhelmed by the response- the restaurant has been full almost every night.

He has had to turn away many revellers looking to enjoy just a cocktail, so has made the decision to open a new, separate venue in the former YMCA charity shop at 39, High Street.

His brother, Wayne, will be joining him and they will offer tapas and cocktails in a casual, laid-back lounge-style venue.

Darren, 43, said: "It has been incredible. In 2015 from when we opened No 3 to when we closed for our Christmas holidays we were fully booked every evening.

"Last year from January to December, our first full year, there was only about eight evenings in that year that didn't fill. The support locally has been incredible."

He has applied for planning permission for the new venue, which would be called Leonards at 39, and Darren stressed that it will not be a restaurant like No 3, which is said is unique and will remain that way.

He said there will be an extensive cocktail list and tapas menu with around 30 to 40 dishes.

Darren said: "We get groups of girls who we have to turn away on a Saturday coming to the door for cocktails. We want to fill that gap.

"What we haven't got in Ross is a really good bar and if you want to eat, there will be quality tapas."

Leonards at 39 will be designed by his wife, Charlotte, who is an interior designer and also has a catering background.

Wayne, 46, is a chef and runs Cookfella's in Guisborough, in the north-east with his wife, Helen.

Darren said: "We have all come from five star hotels, two rosettes and above. My experience is three Michelin stars, one Michelin star, two rosettes as head chef for nine years."

He said they have moved away from fine dining but still offer the quality of Michelin dishes but in a fun environment.

Darren has applied for a change of use from A1 to A3. A planning decision will be made by the end of April.