A NEW restaurant in York is offering more than just a flavour of locally-sourced food as dinners can get a glimpse of York's Roman past.

Alongside its wine stock, the cellar of the Rattle Owl, in Micklegate, features the remains of a Roman road and part of a Roman house.

The find was made during renovations of the 17th century building over the past two years as part of a project to transform it from the former Blake Head Book Shop, to a 42-seat restaurant and an accompanying shop.

Rattle Owl restaurant manager Lucy Fotheringham said: "The remains in the basement were uncovered during the renovation. It's quite rare to have these remains in a building, as many of the other buildings in the street dug straight through them for the foundations.

"A team from the University of York came and excavated it for us. They also found lots of artefacts like pieces of pot.

"We'll be putting an information board up in the restaurant explaining about the remains, and will take customers down to show them. So far it's been very popular, everyone who has heard about it has wanted to see it "We are delighted to have something so original in the building."

The restaurant opened in October, creating 15 jobs following the completion of the renovation project on the historic street which runs from the Medieval gateway of Micklegate Bar to the city.

Head chef Vicki Younger has created a seasonal menu that draws from Yorkshire’s produce as part of the restaurant's "sensibly sustainable" ethos, which means the team cares about their suppliers, uses up everything, shops locally where possible with many items in the restaurant sourced from the in Micklegate, or are made from reclaimed materials.

They work with local businesses for flowers, photography, design work, recycle through St Nicks, with energy supplied from Ecotricity. They are also a living wage employer and all staff take a share in any profits.

Ms Fotheringham said: "The idea has been in the pipeline for about two years since the owner bought the building. It has been under renovation since then.

"Over that time we've definitely seen Micklegate changing, it's been reformed and there's lots of thriving independent businesses on the street. There's a real community feel between everyone."