SHOPS, pubs, cafes, hair salons, gyms and pools are all opening their doors again today.

As lockdown restrictions are eased, everyone is being encouraged to support local businesses.

Delamere Forest Cafe is one of the many outdoor hospitality venues excited to be welcoming visitors back.

The cafe is inside a new £9 million eco-friendly visitor centre.

Owner and director Raj Regmi invested £400,000 developing the new business and employs 37 staff, including five chefs.

The dad-of-two has managed top London restaurants at Selfridges in Oxford Street and at the Southbank Centre, working in hospitality for 20 years.

He runs a hotel in Bedford and a cafe and restaurant in a country park in Peterborough.

Using his skill, knowledge and expertise, he is determined to put Delamere Forest on the map.

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"We have a simple vision," said Raj. "We want to create a good destination venue where people can get quality food and great service in a very clean environment.

"Our ethos is to invest in the area. We source all our food locally and we are asking local growers to bring their fruit and vegetables to our site. Everything is cooked fresh on the premises."

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