A MUCH loved community restaurant reopened today almost two years after its shock closure.Customers at Sue Ryder Care's The Stables Restaurant in Chantry Park were left reeling when it was announced that the popular eatery was going to close in October 2000.

A MUCH loved community restaurant reopened today almost two years after its shock closure.

Customers at Sue Ryder Care's The Stables Restaurant in Chantry Park were left reeling when it was announced that the popular eatery was going to close in October 2000.

A petition was launched by patrons, many of whom were elderly or disabled but it failed to save the restaurant that had been in place for four and a half years.

But today after a long battle the restaurant is back up and running and serving the community that so missed it.

Plenty of old faces, and some new ones, gathered at the restaurant this morning to partake of a celebratory Bucks Fizz and a slice of cake.

Sue Doe from Sue Ryder Care is one of the fundraisers responsible for getting the restaurant back up and running.

She said: "It is so exciting, we are absolutely thrilled that it is open again.

"It is always nice for our residents and families to go over there.

"Day care often go over there and have coffee and cakes on people's birthdays – it is like a day out for them."

But the restaurant, which sells everything from cakes and soups to roast dinners on a Sunday is not just for residents of the Sue Ryder Care Home and a new take-away and deli have been added to attract those who work in the area.

Not too many changes have been made however, and the restaurant is similar to the way it was before it closed.

It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm.