AFTER the completion of painstaking restoration work, the final phase will now begin to transform Stockport's historic Winter's building into a French restaurant.
Bistro Marc at Winter's is set to open its doors to customers in the New Year.
Led by husband-and-wife co-owners, chef Marc Mole and Rachel Winter Jones, business and PR manager, it will serve French favourites, with a focus on using French local produce from Stockport Indoor Markets and other local suppliers.
The fit out for the 70-cover restaurant which will operate over two floors, will include a new chef's kitchen, restoring and renovating the original bench seating, renovation of the old bar to allow for counter dining, as well as artwork and images depicting Winter's through the years.
Marc and Rachel have gone to great lengths to ensure the original fabric of the building is respected and preserved, including working with local lighting specialists Agapanthus Interiors.
Using their expertise, lights in the old bar area have been salvaged and renovated and given a new lease of life as pendant lights on the ground floor of the building.
Bistro Marc at Winter's has also begun the process of recruiting staff in both front of house and kitchen roles.
David Meller, Stockport Council cabinet member for economy and regeneration pictured here with Marc and Rachel, said: "I am thrilled that we can now let Marc and Rachel take the reins to prepare for the opening of their new business.
"The renovation work and clock look spectacular, and Marc and Rachel now have a blank canvas to give Bistro Marc a strong identity and make their mark to bring this much-loved building back to life."