TEIGNBRIDGE residents have been enjoying a bit of fine dining at Newton Abbot’s new £500,000 Italian restaurant, Ricca’s since its opening last month.

The establishment has created 18 new jobs and seats 130 customers who can enjoy delicious Italian treats at lunchtime and in the evening.

Owner Adam Koch, who runs the business with his father and brother, purchased two adjoining retail premises a year ago and has spent that time taking the units literally back to the original stone.

Mr Koch said: ‘We have retained many of the original features and introduced different material and finishes to give a contemporary but comfortable feel.

‘We are delighted with the response from customers and bookings have been brisk.’

This isn’t the first restaurant that the father and sons’ team have set up, they also have a successful establishment in Burnham-on-Sea.

Sally Henley, the town centre development manager, said: ‘We have very few empty properties available in the town centre and so I am delighted that Adam spotted this particular opportunity in our town.

‘I know that he has been looking at a number of towns in Devon and so we are fortunate that his research led him to Newton Abbot.

‘There has been a great deal of excitement as the once very forlorn looking property has been brought back to life and everyone is agreed that Adam and his team have done a really fantastic job and we are thrilled to have such a super restaurant.’