A POPULAR Turkish restaurant that shut its doors more than two months ago is preparing to re-open after undergoing a full revamp.

Bosses at the former Riva Meze Bar, on Rayleigh High Street, closed the restaurant on July 12 and have now revealed the new business, renamed Lalezar, will open to customers in the coming weeks.

The restaurant, which offered a sit-down Turkish meze and grill to customers and was popular, is being internally renovated and is set to carry across staff and management from Riva as it reopens under the Lalezar name.

Tory Rochford councillor, Danielle Belton, has liaised with the management for Lalezar and is excited for what it will bring to the High Street.

She said: “I am really pleased that the business has had a relaunch, and I am looking forward to visiting it, it is under the same management albeit it is an existing brand which is very successful in Doncaster.

“People from Riva have been brought to work at the new company, I am excited to see it and I will continue to support them.

“It is a good time for the High Street now, it seems that a lot of new businesses have opened and I for one am open to that.

“I hope that people continue to support our businesses as without the support we will lose them.

“For me, it is exciting that we have variety.

“We are lucky. Looking at other high streets, we are lucky to have such a good day and night-time offering.”

Danielle added: “It should be much of the same with a new brand that is doing extremely well in their Doncaster branch, and we hope it should reach the success of that in Rayleigh.”

A statement made by the restaurant bosses as they closed for the renovation, said: “We always work to provide better service, drawing on our 30 years’ experience across the UK.

“We will be restructuring our business under our other brand, Lalezar.

Wwe look forward to hosting you again with our renovated decor, new menu additions and the same business ownership.”