YORK’S first Malaysian restaurant has closed for a long-planned refurbishment following the floods of 2012 – and will reopen later with a new owner and new name.

Ning in Tower Street, which was badly flooded when the Ouse burst its banks, was owned by award-winning Malaysian TV chef Norman Musa.

He said he had been repeatedly ill because of stress as he travelled between his restaurants in London, Manchester and York – often visiting all three places in one day – and had decided to close down Ning York, as he would be spending more time in London this year.

Mr Musa said the York restaurant would reopen under a new name and proprietor, still serving Malaysian food from the same team that was trained by him.