THERE is a new kid on the block when it comes to food in St Helens, and complete with luxe interiors and a delightful menu The Dean is aiming to be a venue to be reckoned with.

The venue, which officially opens this Wednesday, March 20, held a soft launch with invited guests on Sunday, where husband and wife team Eddie Dean and Victoria Zsigmond Dean launched their dream.

The pair have transformed the former Willowbrook Hospice shop with the aim of bringing more people into the town.

And they have brought a different kind of menu to the borough.

The event was attended by Mayor of St Helens Pat Ireland, Lady Kirsty Pilkington and the Dean was officially opened by Saints' skipper James Roby.

Eddie, 47, who also owns aluminium firm LouvreSol in Merton Bank, said: "We planned to open a little place on the beach in Spain, open for three nights a week, then enjoy the rest of the time off.

"Last year I applied for Masterchef after doing plenty of cooking and supper clubs but became a Masterchef reject.

St Helens Star:

Eddie and Victoria

"So I thought, what should I do with this now, I'll open up a restaurant and go on Masterchef professionals and win that instead.

"The restaurant then became a reality and seems a long time ago even though it was only 12 weeks.

"The whole idea has developed massively, we've brought in young chefs previously held back in their training.

"So many people are trained and are there just throwing out food.

"They have free rein in the kitchen, under my watchful eye.

"But I'll promise you this, when you dine here, you will dine here again.

"The people of St Helens will not only support this place, but it will be wider afield.

"This isn't a hobby, this is to prove a point. You don't have to be a big name to have a great restaurant.

"You can have good quality people in that kitchen providing good quality food so you can eat well.

"We are here to give people an experience, supper clubs, champagne nights, afternoon tea, wine tasting.

"There is lots happening in here."

St Helens Star:

Inside The Dean

Plans to regenerate the town centre have seen other venues open up recently, including Sabroso and Cork and Dough and The Secret Garden – which now also acts as a coffee shop in the day.

Previously Eddie said: "We decided to open in St Helens because we want to help with the changes here and offer a top of the end restaurant for adults that would otherwise go to Liverpool or Manchester spending loads on taxi fares instead of staying in town - because there are no options.

"Having seen what is being done to improve our town centre, we decided it was better to bring our restaurant to the St Helens high street – it's just the right thing to do."

For more on The Dean visit their Facebook page.

For more on Eddie's cooking go to @edskitchen_ on Instagram.