SUCCESSFUL restaurant owners in Winchester have embarked on a new business to further increase their share of the market.

Masum Meah, whose family run the popular Indian eatery Ghandi's, is the new owner and manager of Palm Panasia - a predominantly Thai restaurant which now fills the former site of Blockbuster which closed two years ago.

Now the group have opened a new site serving Thai cuisine, tapas and buffet lunches - aimed at everyone from small family gatherings to large conference bookings and Christmas parties.

It opened last week following months of renovations, including a state-of-the art new kitchen, to get the former shop into a large 110 seat restaurant.

Owners carried out a soft launch on existing clients to test out their produce before opening to the public.

Mr Meah said: “Because it used to be a retail unit we had to start from fresh and introduce all the kitchen supplies. We had to get everything out as well as do some structural alterations.

“When we do the projects we like to go to town. Everything you see in there is completely new. It's taken about six months in all.

It follows the refurbishment last year of Ghandi's which expanded into a two-unit restaurant after they took over a former off-license next door.

The group have signed a 20 year lease on the new property - evident they are confident in their decision to expand into South East Asian cuisine.

“It will be great for groups, for big corporate groups, and large families,” Mr Meah added. “It's more of a casual dining place during the day time. There'll be a Thai and South-East Asian lunch and specialist menus for business customers. In the evening it's going to be more sit-down and formal.”