A TASTE of Turkey will be coming to Wickford to replace an Italian restaurant which shut suddenly.

Mare e Monti, in High Street, closed unexpectedly about two weeks ago and a poster has been put up in the window stating a Turkish restaurant will be opening soon.

The Echo understands that the people who were running Mare e Monti had a short-term contract and have moved out when it ended.

Shahab Uddin owns the lease to the premises and said that he will be opening the new Turkish restaurant in the coming months.

He added: “I have owned the lease for the restaurant for about seven years.

“I have been in the restaurant business for about ten years now and I have other restaurants around Essex.

“We still have a bit of work to do inside the restaurant to change things before we can open.

“We will be looking to install new kitchen and cooking equipment and machinery such as new grills and things like that.”

Renovation work will include changing the electrics and decorating the restaurant to make it brighter and more attractive.

Mr Uddin said that the opening hours of the the new restaurant will be from about noon until 11pm daily.

He added: “We will be offering a range of Turkish food but the exact menu is yet to be confirmed.

“We are not sure when we will be opening yet.

“We hope to bring something different to the High Street with the new restaurant.”

Neighbouring traders said they were not aware of what was happening at the restaurant.

A shop worker who wished to remain anonymous said: “We saw a closed sign on the door but we didn’t know exactly what was happening there.

“I think it’s a shame as Mare e Monti was a nice restaurant but I am sure that I will be trying it out.”

A shop assistant who wished not to be named said he is pleased that a Turkish restaurant is coming to Wickford.

He added: “We were surprised when Mare e Monti shut and it seemed to close down almost overnight and then a few days later there was a sticker on the window about the new Turkish restaurant.”

Don Morris, Conservative councillor for Wickford Castledon said he will be visiting the new restaurant as he is a fan of Turkish cuisine.

He added: “At the moment I go to the Bogaz Turkish restaurant in Rayleigh but this will be much closer and even in walking distance of my house.

“I think the new restaurant will help give more nightlife to the High Street and give people a place to go for an evening out.”