A new independent restaurant is set to open in Solihull next month following a major refurb.

The old Longfellows Restaurant in Catherine-de-Barnes will reopen as The Fox, a restaurant and bar, after changing hands in July.

Husband and wife duo Doug and Christine Long ran the family restaurant for 33 years but sold the site to retire.

New owner Helen Somerfield, 41, from Solihull, was due to take over in 2019, but the sale was delayed by Covid.

She's now investing in a total refurbishment of the Hampton Lane site ahead of its scheduled opening before the end of November.

A sample menu has been revealed for The Fox, including starters of white onion soup with cheddar and chive rarebit; venison tartare with egg yolk puree, picked beetroot and truffle; and crispy Jerusalem artichokes with goat’s curd, chicory and mustard seeds.

Among the mains are braised beef cheek with mashed potatoes, slow cooked onions and thyme sauce; roasted guinea fowl with salsify, pear, kale and dark chocolate; and an autumn squash risotto, served with poached egg, blue cheese, sage dukkah.

The dessert list includes apple tarte tatin with rosemary ice cream and spiced ginger caramel; a chocolate lava cake with pistachios, raspberries and crème fraîche; and a milk and honey parfait with white chocolate, figs, almonds and honey tuile.

The Fox will also be selling fresh baked bread from a local bakery, which will be available to take away as well as hot drinks.

The restaurant will open Tuesday to Saturday at 10am for coffee and pastries. Lunch will be served between midday and 2pm and dinner 6pm to 9pm. Sunday lunch will be served between noon and 3pm.