CELEBRITY chef Mark Hix is opening a new fish restaurant in Lyme Regis.

Hix Oyster & Fish House will open in the seafront's Lister Gardens, on the site of the former fish restaurant owned by Merry Bolton and Carl Salter.

The 'no frills' restaurant will serve simply prepared, locally-caught fish, and is due to open in late May.

Mark, from West Bay, is returning to Dorset after working in London for 25 years, 17 of them as chef director for Caprice Holdings, a company owning eight of London's best-known restaurants, including The Ivy.

Mr Hix has now decided to set up his own restaurant business and thinks he has found the perfect spot in this wooden and glass building overlooking the Cobb.

He said: "Having been brought up in West Bay and moving to London some 25 years ago, I've always wanted to eventually do something close to the sea.

"Having looked around and considered West Bay and other areas I was almost ready to give up in trying to find the perfect spot when I received a call from Carl Salter to say he was in the process of rebuilding his successful restaurant overlooking the Cobb.

"On my first visit I couldn't quite believe how the view from the restaurant was unsurpassed by any on the West Country coastline.

"The restaurant Hix Oyster & Fish House will be a no frills restaurant, serving simply prepared, locally landed fish and supporting local fisherman and producers as one would expect. We will have a small lounge and eating bar downstairs amongst the kitchen."

Taking charge of the kitchen will be head chef, Mike Barnard, 24, currently the head chef at The West Bay and formerly a junior chef working under Mr Hix at The Ivy.

Mr Barnard will still be involved with The West Bay, but is excited about his new challenge. "I am definitely looking forward to it," he said. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me as a chef to work with Mark.

"I worked with him in The Ivy but I'll be working with him a lot more closely this time.

"We will use fantastic local produce and support local fishermen and local businesses."

Mr Hix said he chose the young chef, who trained at Weymouth College, because they share the same philosophy for good ingredients and simple food.

Front of house will be led by Grace Gillan. Mr Hix said: "Both Mike and Grace live locally and will give a regionalised feel to the business, together with a strong team, which we are now recruiting for. We are set to open late May 2008."

The Hix Oyster & Fish House is the second of Mr Hix's solo ventures, the first being the Hix Oyster and Chop House, due to open next month in London's Smithfield Meat Market.