THE long-awaited new restaurant that will be part of the major transformation of Skipton Town Hall is set to open next month.

Family restaurant chain Wildwood will be opening it's doors sometime in September.

Tasty PLC has signed a 25-year lease with Craven District Council to open and operate Wildwood, a modern restaurant chain which serves European and international food along with a children’s menu.

Contractors have begun a fit-out of the three-floor restaurant, using vacant office space within the building, after the council completed works to ensure the unit was wind and watertight and structurally sound.

Councillor Simon Myers, Craven District Council’s lead member for Enterprising Craven, said: “We’re delighted that this high quality restaurant will be operating from Skipton Town Hall.

"This is a great step forward as we turn this historic building into a cultural hub for residents and visitors.

“We are transforming the Concert Hall with new technology and seating, plus an interval bar, and we have very exciting plans for Craven Museum and the Exhibition Gallery; this new restaurant will bring in even more people to this end of the High Street and help create a real buzz around the building.”

Jo Bargery, Managing Director at Wildwood, said: “We are all very excited about the new Wildwood restaurant opening in such a beautiful historic building in Skipton.

“The restaurant will be over three different floors to accommodate all our diners!

"We will be offering a diverse menu, packed full of flavour, with plenty of variety and something for everyone, so make sure you pop down for some stone baked pizza, freshly prepared pasta or one of our classic burgers!”

Wildwood has a number of restaurants across the country, including in Ilkley, Cambridge, Nottingham, and York, and specialises in bringing historic and attractive buildings to life, incorporating original features of the buildings into the restaurant design.

For more information about Wildwood, go to wildwoodrestaurants.co.uk