THE latest in a chain of restaurants which started in Burley-in-Wharfedale has opened.

Cutlers on the Stray opened its doors in Harrogate for the first time on Friday - the third restaurant in the Cutlers group, which includes Cutlers Bar and Brasserie in Burley and Bibb and Tucker at the Summer Cross in Otley.

For Chef Rick Hodgson, this now makes four restaurants under his control - he also owns Rick's Just for Starters, also in Harrogate.

The new Harrogate restaurant celebrated its opening with a party night for Harrogate diners and local celebrities, including football's Chris Kamara.

The new Cutlers represents a great challenge for Rick.

"Running four restaurants is certainly a challenge but we work very hard to maintain high standards of quality across the board and we have been fortunate in bringing together an excellent team for each site," he said.

Further expansion of the Cutlers group is planned for the future. The aim is to develop the largest independently owned chain of restaurants in Yorkshire and for each to be recommended by the Good Food Guide. Meanwhile, work is continuing to complete the sixteen bedrooms at Cutlers on the Stray before the end of the year.

Cutlers Bar and Brasserie in Burley in Wharfedale will be hosting a Wedding Fayre with a difference. On the evening of Tuesday, October 17, brides and bride's mothers are invited to come to Cutlers and bring the bride's father.

Amongst the stands at the Wedding Fayre will be voice coach, Jane Oakshott, who will be giving the father of the bride a free 20-minute teach-in on how to make a speech on the big day.