A TOP restaurant devastated by fire a few weeks before Christmas is set to reopen its kitchen.

Five teams of firefighters were called to the The Star Inn The City in Museum Street, York, after flames broke out in the early hours of November 9 last year.

The fire left the kitchen badly damaged and without a roof.

Work carried out in the weeks after the blaze allowed the venue's bar to reopen in late November - but the kitchen and restaurant remained closed.

Now the work to rebuild the kitchen is nearing completion and the restaurant has started taking bookings from March 11.

Jamie Castle, food and beverage manager at The Star Inn the City, said: "The 11th is the date we have given with a bit of leeway - we may be open slightly earlier. We are taking bookings from March 11.

"The whole kitchen was tailor-made. It had to be designed and rebuilt. We are hoping the kitchens should arrive in the first week in March and then be ready to open for the 11th."

The fire came just weeks before Christmas and festive bookings were moved to Mr P’s Curious Tavern in York, which like The Star Inn the City is owned by leading chef Andrew Pern.

Jamie added: "It was a massive disappointment from our side to have to let people down. We are looking forward to getting back up and running and getting people in the restaurant and feeding people again."

In the aftermath of the fire the business opened the new Yorkshire Tea-pi - offering Yorkshire Tea-themed drinks and beers outdoors.

Part of the venue also included table service, to ensure staff who may have been reliant on kitchen jobs were still able to work.

To book a table visit opentable.co.uk, phone 01904 619208 or email info@starinnthecity.co.uk