A FORMER pub in Kendal is set to be transformed into a new restaurant.

Work begins next week to transform what was The Gate of Kendal-and formerly the Dun Horse- in Stramongate, into a new Fino Tapas bar.

The opening of the Spanish restaurant is part of a multi-million-pound expansion plan for the Preston-based eatery and will see restaurants also open in Lytham, Chester and Blackpool.

It is expected the Kendal site will employ between 25 and 35 people.

And owner Mark O’Rourke has not ruled out opening another restaurant in Ambleside.

“A restaurant in Ambleside would be on the cards in the future if anything suitable becomes available,” he said.

The businessman — who owns four other restaurants in Preston — hopes to have the Kendal site open in November and has already begun designing the site’s new look.

“I’m opening one in Lytham first in the coming weeks, then I’m going to do the Blackpool site,” said Mr O’ Rourke

“I’ve already got the decorator working on Kendal, so he’ll be dealing with all the inside and external, doing a bit of a rip out in the near future.

“We’ll be looking at the back of the year, ideally it would be November.

“I’m hoping to get some plaster off the wall inside and expose some nice stone and bring the character out with it being a really old building.

“And there’ll be handmade Moroccan tiles that are throughout all the restaurants.

“In Kendal, we’ll have a bar and also a bit of a deli with legs of ham and charcuterie.”

Fino Tapas opened in 2018 in St Winifred’s Street in Preston before it relocated to larger premises in Guildhall Street.

Customers can expect a wide array of Spanish tapas dishes for lunch, dinner and takeaway.