ONE of York's best known Spanish tapas bars and restaurants has closed its doors for the last time.

La Tasca in Back Swinegate served its final Fresh Gordal Olives, Pimientos de Padrón and Paella Verduras on Saturday.

The restaurant, which opened in 2004, is now set to be refurbished and is then due to re-open on March 28 as a new Las Iguanas restaurant, specialising in Latin American food.

The move follows the acquisition last year of the La Tasca chain by Casual Dining Group.

Asked whether any jobs had been lost or created through the York closure and re-opening, a spokeswoman for Las Iguanas said that about 20 of the existing team from La Tasca was joining Las Iguanas following training, but an additional 18 jobs would also be created.

La Tasca used to feature salsa dancing upstairs, and the restaurant was a meeting place for Spanish/Latin American ex-pats living in and visiting York. Asked whether this would carry on under Las Iguanas, the spokeswoman said: "We’ll be looking at all opportunities to introduce our fresh Latin food and cocktails to the lovely people of York and the new restaurant will be a great space to get together and meet, relax and have fun.

"The South American twist on our menu and in the bar also tends to naturally attract ex-pats and we look forward to them coming in to say hola and enjoying a caipirinha!"

She added: "York has been on our wish list for many years so we are delighted to finally be opening this spring."

In an email sent to La Tasca regular customers on its mailing list, the firm said that it had closed 'after some very happy years in the heart of York,' adding: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your custom, we appreciate your loyalty throughout the years."

It also said that anyone with a La Tasca Loyalty Card would still be able to enjoy a range of monthly discounts and benefits each time they visited one of its alternative locations.