A RESTAURANT aiming to offer the experience of “a night out under one roof” will open on the outskirts of Newport in the New Year.

Casual Fine Dining is the brainchild of Steve White and Gareth Jones, two chefs with decades of culinary experience between them.

While the exact location is being kept secret, they are hoping to open the doors in January.

Mr White, a multi-award winning chef and former head chef at the Ruperra Arms in Bassaleg, said: “We want it to be the new, up and coming dining place that Newport hasn’t seen yet.

“The way which we will present and prepare the food is going to be different to what a normal pub would.

“But it’s going to bridge that gap between formality and casual dining, hence the name.”

The menu will feature an affordable set lunch menu, an “early bird” menu on weekdays and afternoon tea served throughout the week.

On top of that, visitors will also have a chance to see how the menu is assembled with food demonstrations and recipe-sharing planned for the venue.

“People can come up and see me work and ask questions. We just want to get people involved,” said Mr White.

Both men say their location offers them a chance to fulfil their ambitions, describing their site as being “full of so much potential”.

When it first opens it will house between 40 and 60 people, but Mr Jones says that they have the space to seat upwards of 120 people once they find their feet.

Above all, the aim is for the venue to offer more than one thing to its customers.

“We want it to be a place where people can just sit in the lounge and relax before going through to the dining area,” said Mr Jones.

“They’ve got that table for the night, they’re not going to be rushed out through the door, and can go back into the lounge.”

On the weekend, there are plans for Casual Fine Dining to host local musical talent, largely focusing on acoustic performers and pianists.

“We want people to see it as a night out under one roof,” Mr Jones added.