Mexican cuisine is funky food choice at new restaurant

A TOWN centre restaurant is being given a £45,000 Mexican makeover after it was taken over by new owners.

The former Pablo Frankies restaurant in Newcastle's High Street is set to reopen to the public as Hector Garcia's, following a four-week refit.

The restaurant will serve more than 40 Latin American dishes such as tapas and fajitas, as well as offering a wide choice of wines, Mexican beers and more traditional lagers and coffee.

It will be run by Stephen Woollam and business partner Sam Burgess, who are both from the Newcastle area.

Mr Woollam, who also runs Mexican restaurant Guava Guava in Getliffe's Yard, Leek, said he was excited about the new business venture.

The 40-year-old, who is from Porthill, said: "Guava Guava has been very successful in Leek, and we have had a lot of positive feedback from our customers since we opened it in December.

"This restaurant will be the more funked-up version of Guava Guava, you could say. The basis of the menu will be the same, but we will offer more tapas options and food from across Latin America.

"I've been looking at this premises for about 12 years now, and I always said I would take it if it became available.

"We think we've found a niche in the market and are confident the restaurant will do well. I'm very excited and just can't wait to get going now."

Staff are currently refurbishing the restaurant in time for its opening on Thursday.

Some of the staff, including the chef, will move to Hector Garcia's from Guava Guava, creating up to 25 new jobs at the Leek restaurant.

Mr Burgess, aged 26, who is from Newcastle and used to go to Wolstanton High School, said: "With us both being from the area, I think it will help us to know what our customers want and expect.

"We're offering something different which you can't get in Newcastle at the moment."

The restaurant will seat almost 80 diners.

Doug Morris, president of Newcastle Chamber Of Trade, said: "It's important to get the right mix between the night-time and day-time economy, and the council seems to have recognised that.

"Any new restaurant which comes with a good reputation is a welcome addition to the town."

Hector Garcia's will be the second new establishment to open in High Street in recent weeks.

In September, the former Edwards bar reopened as Lakota after a £400,000 refit. The bar serves more than 30 cocktails.

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