ONE of the first tapas restaurants in Hampshire is set to open in a former Alresford estate agents next month. 

Andres and Marie-Louise Alemany are converting the 18th century Keats/Charters office in Broad Street into a tapas restaurant and are hoping to open in mid-November.

The couple already run the Purefoy Arms pub in Preston Candover and are investing around £100,000 in the new venture.

Andres said: “There are few tapas bars in Hampshire and they are very English-ised. I’m originally from Barcelona, with a Spanish father, so I will be serving real Spanish food.”

The restaurant will have about 35-40 covers inside and about 15 outside. It will serve about 35 dishes, Spanish wine, sherries and a lager.

He added: “We always wanted to open something in Alresford. It’s a constantly buzzy town. People are always willing to try something different. People can relate to Spanish food. It is a break from the norm.

“Tapas is my food, this is my thing. We have already had good feedback of people wanting to book.”

The restaurant will initially open Tuesday to Saturday and employ three full-time and two part-time.