A POPULAR restaurant will be closing its doors this month after struggling to recover from the knock-on effect of Covid.

Taste Brasserie on Trinity Street in Dorchester will close for good on Friday, August 26, but will be replaced by a new restaurant called Diani.

Todd Moffat, who owns the Taste restaurant with his partner Louise, said they would be a silent partner working with an award-wining chef, Robert Ndungo.

Mr Ndungo has previously worked as a head chef at The Acorn Inn in Evershot and plans to be serving a lunch and dinner menu there, as well as wine and cocktails.

Taste's cafes at Chesil Beach and at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester will remain in business.

Mr Moffat said that the business had changed 'massively' since Covid.

He said: "We have got two other businesses and they are still doing really well, but the Brasserie was struggling.

"We have been here for 16 years, so it's a shame, but things have to move on and evolve."

He added that no staff from the restaurant would be losing their job, as they would be transferred to the other local Taste cafes.

In an announcement on social media, Taste Brasserie said: "Taste Brasserie in Dorchester will be closing its doors for the last time on Friday 26th August

"Thank you to all of our customers over the years, we couldn’t have done this without you.

"We will still be at Taste Café at Chesil Beach and Taste cafe at Dorset Museum so pop in and see us all.

"Excitingly the Brasserie will be turned into a fabulous restaurant called Diani run by a very talented and multi award-winning chef, Robert Ndungu,formerly Head Chef of The Acorn Inn at Evershot.

"He with his team will be cooking up a storm and serving great wine and cocktails lunchtimes and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and a sumptuous Sunday lunch."

The new restaurant is expected to be opening on Trinity Street on September 21 this year.