A DERELICT shop is being brought back to life by a Hartford couple who are ringing the changes.

Builders are working like the clappers to transform a former off licence in Chester Road into a cosy and quirky restaurant and wine bar in time for its official opening on November 29.

Creating Chime is a dream come true for its directors Liz Craig and Sarah Walker.

Liz said: "We moved into the village four years ago and live round the corner and every time we've walked past we've said it would make a lovely wine bar and restaurant.

"Luckily when it came up for auction we secured it.

"It's a dream of ours that's very quickly becoming a reality."

The shop had been empty for 12 years when the duo bought it at auction in October 2013.

It is home to the village's historic fire bell, which inspired the name Chime and which the new company helped to refurbish along with Hartford Civic Society.

Liz and Sarah have been keen to preserve the historic nature of the building and have kept many of the original features, including a fireplace and floorboards on the first floor.

Wooden beams that needed to be replaced have still found a place in Chime and can be spotted making up the bar top and beer pumps.

But its interior has been extensively remodelled in the eight-month project as a number of rooms on the ground floor were knocked through, a mezzanine floor created and kitchen, bar and toilets built.

"We wanted to create a sense of space but keep it cosy," said Liz.

"When we looked around with the builder when we first viewed it we thought 'can we do this, is it too much?' but we've taken a punt, done it and it's turning into reality."

Their menu, put together by head chef Elliott Doyle, includes pizzas and flatbreads made in the restaurant's wood fired pizza oven as well as fine dining.

They will employ around 30 people, with 90 per cent of the workforce from Hartford, and will use mid Cheshire suppliers for ingredients, wine and beer.

Sarah said: "People in Hartford are quite excited because this building has been such an eyesore.

"People are really glad that something's being done with it and we have brought it back to life."

For more information visit chimehartford.co.uk