A HEREFORD family is promising to turn one of the city’s most prominent landmarks back to its former glory.

Left Bank was bought earlier this month and the new owners have pledged to revive the fortunes of the riverside venue.

The Lively family, through its Cathedral View Investments business, concluded the purchase and has already begun work on the Bridge Street site.

Left Bank was previously owned by Nottinghambased Bramcote Holdings and was last year placed on the open market with a guide price of £1.25million.

The bar and restaurant complex endured a chequered history after its founder Dr Albert Heijn sold the business in 2007.

It resulted in the venue shutting in 2009 before a second effort to make the business work saw it close suddenly before Christmas the following year.

Left Bank has remained closed ever since but the new owners want to turn the clock back to when the venue first opened in 2000.

Simon Lively, from Cathedral View Investments, said: “Everyone from Hereford has had a lovely experience at the Left Bank.

“It’s an iconic part of the city – when you buy a post card from Wathens you see the Old Bridge, the cathedral and Left Bank.”

Mr Lively said that the first priority is to clean the building – both inside and out – before changes will be made to the interiors.

Eventually, he added, the venue will be marketed and efforts will be made to approach a high quality restaurant to take over the ground floor while firms will be invited to occupy offices on the top two floors.

“We are not frightened of spending money to restore the Left Bank as we want to return it to its former glory,” explained Mr Lively.

“We are a local family who had the opportunity to buy it and want to have it looking great when the weather improves – it’s very exciting for the city.”

The deal includes the main complex and the barns next to the river off Gwynne Street. However, Diego’s Cafe and the other shops on Bridge Street were not included in the sale.