A MEDITERRANEAN tapas bar and restaurant opened in Trowbridge this week, hoping to fill a gap in the cuisine market.

Torano, in Fore Street, opened for business on Wednesday night, serving a range of Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, including tapas, paella and salads.

The owners and managers are mother-and-son team Rose and Chris Ogborn, who have successfully run Perfect Pasties in Silver Street for the past two years.

They are now hoping to repeat that success with their first foray into the restaurant trade.

Mrs Ogborn said: “Trowbridge needed something new.

“There’s nothing else like this around, I think Bath is the nearest place with a tapas bar.”

To help them provide an authentic eating experience, the Ogborns have hired El Hadi El Bouchaibi, known as Adi, a chef with years of cooking around the Mediterranean behind him, including time spent in France, Spain and Morocco with Michelin-starred chefs.

“All of our food is cooked with fresh, local produce on site, there is no microwave,” said Adi.

“This is Trowbridge’s first tapas bar.

“We will be serving Spanish-style dishes as well as our own recipes.”

Prices for tapas dishes will start at £1.95 and range up to £6.95, with a variety of meat, fish and vegetable dishes which can be eaten by one person or shared between diners.

Paella will start at £4.95 for one person, with vegetarian and traditional fish and chicken varieties available. There will also be a range of desserts such as Spanish flan.

The Ogborns took control of the premises, which was previously Westwood Kitchens, several months ago and in that time it has been completely renovated into a light and airy restaurant with a Spanish feel.

In addition to the Mediterranean cuisine on offer, traditional pasties will be on sale during the day, as Perfect Pasties moves into the Fore Street site. The plan is now to turn the Silver Street premises into a photo gallery.

Mr Ogborn said: “We’re hoping to bring some quality dining to Trowbridge, a place where people can come, relax and get great food. Hopefully Trowbridge will enjoy us.”

FACT FILE:
  • Torano, 12 Fore Street, Trowbridge. Tel (01225) 766055.
  • Open 8am-11pm Mon -Sat
  • Food served from 8:30am-10:30pm
  • Daytime fare features the perfect pasty range, while in the evening tapas take centre stage
  • Wheelchair access
  • Children’s menus