A COWLING restaurant with a chequered past has new faces at the helm.

And they have taken over the Harlequin with a pledge to restore the strong reputation of the Keighley Road premises.

Dominique Marshall and her partner Dean Marren took the lease on the property in November and following a refurbishment, opened the building as a bistro last month.

The premises, which have changed hands several times over the years, had closed last summer.

Dominique, 37, who lived at Laycock with chef Dean and their two young children before the move to the Harlequin, says the initial feedback to their new venture has been excellent.

"We've had a lot of local support and people are pleased it's being restored to how it was," she said.

"It's still early days, but we are seeing customers returning.

"We're hoping to 'gee up' the lunch trade – lunches haven't been served here for several years.

"About five years ago we tried to acquire the premises, but missed out on that occasion. We're delighted to be here now."

The couple employ two full-time staff and several part-time workers.