Faramarz Azadian believes he has been successful in introducing continental caf culture into Bradford.

Caf Bleu opened three years ago on North Parade offering a variety of cosmopolitan cuisine.

Now Mr Azadian is expanding by creating an upstairs chill-out area for customers to relax in which is due to open in April.

And he plans longer opening hours on Friday and Saturday evenings to turn the venue into an a la carte restaurant.

Refurbishment is underway to create the chill-out area where customers will be able to eat and drink in a relaxed environment.

Downstairs will then become no smoking but cigarettes will be still be allowed upstairs. By the end of the year Caf Bleu is expected to offer evening meals from a set menu as a restaurant.

Mr Azadian said he chose to invest £50,000 to open Caf Bleu in Bradford because he believed he had found a gap in the market.

He said: "I had worked in the trade before but I had never done anything like this on my own. To start with I felt like I was swimming the ocean and I was never going to be able to get to where I wanted to be.

"But after the first couple of weeks I started to notice something happening. We never advertised, we relied on word of mouth and once people come through our door that is when we make our mark.

"Most of our customers are regulars and keep coming back. We get to know our customers and get into their heart. It is not just 'pay me, thank you, goodbye' we know them well and that is why they keep coming back."

Caf Bleu offers a range of sandwiches, paninis and patisseries which he describes as Mediterranean cuisine. But, having travelling extensively, he says his menu has influences from across the world.

This can be seen on the specials board this week, which offers everything from Swedish meatballs to Thai fishcakes and Japanese-style torpedo prawns.

Last month Mr Azadian threw his support behind the T&A Buy it in Bradford campaign to get shoppers to keep coming into the city centre as it undergoes massive redevelopment.

He said: "Of course, Bradford could have a better city centre but it is improving and I am happy where I am because North Parade is famous in Bradford for having exclusive shops.

"Bradford does have a great reputation as a place to eat out but I like to think we offer something different to anywhere else."