A MALVERN bar which closed its doors last month is set to come back to life this summer as a restaurant, bar and coffee shop.

Matthew Cain, who was manager at Oliver's for two years until 2005, has returned to the venue in Belle Vue Terrace to work in partnership with former boss and landlord Tony Wilkinson.

Together they will relaunch the venue as Gallery 36 which will open in the summer and create around 20 jobs.

It will be open seven days a week and provide a relaxing and informal atmosphere with locally sourced food on the casual dining menu.

Mr Wilkinson, who lives locally with his wife Hilary, closed Oliver's at the beginning of April to start the refurbishment. Mr Cain and his wife, Beth, also live locally with their three daughters.

Since leaving Oliver's he has worked in a number of hotels, most recently as general manager at a hotel in Stonehouse.

Mr Cain said: “I am really looking forward to returning to Malvern to run a restaurant which will provide a relaxing atmosphere for people to meet, enjoy a drink and top-quality locally-sourced food.

“I have worked in the hospitality industry since I was 16 and I realise the importance of providing an impeccable standard to customers. I look forward to welcoming people to the restaurant.”

Mr Wilkinson said: “It is a pleasure to have Matt back on board. We really enjoyed our time working together previously and I am looking forward to this new venture. We will be bringing something different to Malvern.”

Olivers, which was previously Edward G's Wine Bar and Monroe's, had been a fixture of Malvern's social scene for decades.

In its heyday it was packed out by hundreds of customers on a Friday and Saturday night and was widely acknowledged as one of the town centre's busiest venues. It was popular for football matches, Superbowl nights, live music events and Sunday pub quizzes.

News of its closure was greeted with an outpouring of reminiscences from regulars. recalling the good times they had experienced there.