AN Italian cafe and restaurant is back in business after seven years, Peter Dyke writes.

La Cucina in Uphill has re-opened it doors for the summer.

It is offering breakfasts and lunches to hungry visitors from Tuesday through to Sunday.

Boss Demetris Demetriou, 65, says he will be testing the waters to see how the village eaterie - whose name means The Kitchen in Italian - fares in the coming weeks.

But he doesn't need to worry too much.

(Image: Contributed)

After just a few days of re-opening last week, and thanks to some sunny weather, the place is already buzzing.

Demetris explained: "We decided it was time to have another go with La Cucina and test the waters to see how things go. We do not know what the future will hold for us but let's wait and see.

"We have a long history of serving the local people here and I am proud to support anything in the village. I remember doing barbecues outside in lockdown.

"And we will be keeping up our annual tradition of opening the place on Christmas Day for Christmas lunch."

La Cucina has been operating as a bed and breakfast in the village since the restaurant closed its doors.

Demetris has also been running the Mediterranean-themed Demetris Taverna in Weston-super-Mare for the past 45 years.

He added: "One day it is my dream to move Demetris to Uphill and run everything from here but let's see how things turn out."