A NEW Indian restaurant will soon open in Ledbury, with owners promising something that the town "hasn't seen before".
The restaurant, which will be called Panache, will be moving into a site on The Homend that was previously occupied by The New Blue Orchid Thai restaurant, which closed shortly after the death of owner Mark Gardner.
Miah Ansar, one of the directors of the new venture, said they had been looking to open a restaurant in Ledbury, adding to existing sites in other parts of the West Midlands.
He said they had been drawn in by the town's reputation as a tourist destination.
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"We've been looking in Ledbury for quite a while," Mr Ansar said.
"I have been looking for places but had never found a place to go.
"Knowing that it is a very affluent area and has local tourists was really quite interesting to me.
"We have other restaurants in Bewdley, Kinver and Birmingham city centre. Ledbury is where we had our eyes on next."
Preparations are now underway to get the new restaurant ready to open. Although no opening date has been confirmed, Mr Ansar, 30, said the team is aiming to welcome its first customers in April.
He said they can expect a fusion menu, which will offer Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine, and modern interiors.
It is also hoped that the restaurant will offer a premium experience that is still affordable.
"It's going to be a fusion menu and different to local Indian restaurants that we already have in the area," Mr Ansar said. "It's going to be a premier setting but without the price tag.
"We're going to give it a modern look. It will be something that Ledbury hasn't seen before."
Having announced the upcoming opening online, he said he has been pleased by the reaction from locals, many of whom have shared their excitement at the news.
"The reception has been brilliant so far," Mr Ansar said.
