ONE of Hove’s leading restaurants will close its doors for the final time at the end of the month.

But gourmands need not despair as Graze’s owners Kate Alleston and Neil Mannifield will open new eatery Market at the same Western Road site in September after a £20,000 refurbishment.

The pair have decided to revamp the award-winning restaurant after almost a decade with a less formal dining experience.

The new 50-cover restaurant will be centred around a bar where customers can eat and watch chefs prepare their meal.

A trace of the old Graze upmarket experience will remain with the lower level private dining room – although remaining, however, it has been renamed Downmarket.

The owners said that customers returning to Market in September should expect to see a “fresh new look” designed to give the feel of a traditional market with Victorian green metro tiling, mirrors, a lawn wall and “bright, clean, utilitarian” furniture and lighting.

Ms Alleston said the change was in response to culinary trends moving away from fine dining with a greater focus on flavour rather than “complexity”.

She said: “Graze has been running for nine years, but we have to move with the times.

“I think when we first opened we were quite ahead of the times and maybe a lot of people didn’t quite understand, but now we don’t want to be caught behind the times.

“I think our custom will come down in age with the change. For the customers who love what we do already, we want to make sure they know it’s still us, still the same chef, but just different great food.”

Ms Alleston said she had not been certain initially whether they would “go as far” as change the restaurant’s name until spotting a large 20-year-old sign from Camden Market at an antiques fair.

She said the new restaurant would include a market ethos with customers able to buy produce from local suppliers.,The restaurant will be working with numerous local suppliers including Bedlam Brewery, who have given Market first trial of their new international pilsner.The Flour Pot Bakery will also be providing produce.

Graze will close on July 25 for five weeks before re-opening as Market at the start of September.