A POPULAR bar and restaurant is preparing to reopen as an authentic Italian following a £2 million refurbishment.

Chime in Hartford has been closed since early August as work got underway on the exciting changes.

And, while the Chester Road restaurant's new name has yet to be revealed, the Chime team are looking to welcome customers back in the early weeks of November.

A Chime spokesman said: "Chime will be reopening with a new name as an Italian restaurant in early November, following a £2 million refurbishment.

"We will offer fine dining upstairs and a menu created by our renowned Italian chef Giulio Melis.

Around £2 million has been invested in the refurbishmentAround £2 million has been invested in the refurbishment (Image: Chime) A number of jobs are also available at the new restaurant, with roles including kitchen porters, bar staff, waiting staff, a mixologist and a general manager.

Anyone interested in applying for a job is asked to email info@chimehartford.co.uk.

The latest makeover at Chime follows the 2023 upgrade to the kitchen facilities when the bar closed for more than two months.

A selection of spirits behind the barA selection of spirits behind the bar (Image: Chime) It reopened on March 15 that year as the new taproom and restaurant of Hush Brewing Co. 

This saw the downstairs of the venue turned into a bar area, with the upstairs retained as a restaurant.