ONE of Hereford’s best known venues is set to reopen, it was revealed this week.

The restaurant and bars at Left Bank Village will welcome customers from next month. The site has been empty since the venue’s sudden closure in January following a troubled 2008.

Former Left Bank general manager Michael Westenbrink will take over as managing director, supported by a group of directors who have interests in the Le Monde restaurant group and leisure provider The Arena Group.

Mr Westenbrink said he hoped to transform the Left Bank into a quality “value for money” venue.

“The Left Bank needs to be accessible for people and that means providing good value for money,” he said.

“We want to attract people to the venue whether it’s for morning coffee, a meal or parties.

“In the restaurant, we want to produce good local food at a good price. Herefordshire has some fantastic produce and we want to incorporate that here.”

Bosses are currently going through the final formalities with a licence agreement expected to be approved in the next week.

Mr Westenbrink said staff from the Le Monde base in Cardiff will kick-start the business before looking to take on local staff.

The deal incorporates the bar and restaurant area and the rear yard and offices, but not the shops further up Bridge Street.

One of those shops, however, will soon open as a Balti restaurant under businessman Mohammed Hussain, who owns Basmati in Swainshill.

Anyone interested in employment at the Left Bank should call Le Monde on 02920 398036.