A NEW restaurant in a former home goods store will bring a taste of Turkiye to Ringwood – and it is set to open before Christmas.
Antepli has received the green light to open its second restaurant after plans submitted to New Forest District Council were approved.
The eatery will be in the old Ringwood Surplus Stores building after the well-loved shop closed its doors on Christmas Eve last year after more than five decades of trading.
Antepli has one other restaurant, in Charminster, and owner Eyyup Kisacik said the new site would bring the same traditional Turkish food to the town.
“I saw the premises were available, they need something like that in Ringwood,” Eyyup said.
“People I have as customers from there; Fordingbridge, Ringwood, Southampton, New Forest. I have lots of customers from there, always telling me they need something like that.
“That’s where it started.”
He said work is already underway at the restaurant, with the planned opening date to be the first weekend in December.
The site in Meeting House Lane will see changes to the inside of the building and remodelling over two floors to create a restaurant and bar area.
In a heritage statement submitted to the council, the applicant said the intention is ‘to maintain the history of the building’s aesthetics’.
Initial plans sought to build a new lobby at the front of the building, but this was removed from plans after objections.
Concerns were raised by the conservation officer that the proposal would ‘not preserve the conservation area’ that the restaurant is located in.
No objections were received relating to the change of use, with the Ringwood Society saying it ‘welcomes an active use for the building’.Existing timber cladding will be removed due to its condition.
It will be replaced by dark brown render, which the applicant says will ‘add an elegant contrast to the overall aesthetics and harmonize with its surrounding buildings.’
Source: salisburyjournal