A restaurant devastated by fire nine months ago is to reopen with a new look, new menu and even a new name.

Amélie in Porthleven - which has dropped its 's' after much deliberation - will be relaunching this Saturday and owner Sam Sheffield-Dunstan couldn't be happier.

It will be nine months almost to the day that the restaurant was forced to close for major refurbishment, after a fire caused extensive damage to the building last October.

The first-floor toilets and kitchen were worst affected, but the fire caused structural damage to the roof and smoke contamination within the restaurant, after breaking out upstairs.

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At the time Sam described it as "a devastating couple of days" and praised the staff for their quick actions.

She used the closure as an opportunity to completely revamp the restaurant, with a new look and new menu with Mediterranean influences.

This was to have been unveiled in the spring until the second blow, of the pandemic, hit.

It is now with some excitement that Sam is preparing to finally reopen the doors, telling the Packet: "We just can't wait to get open. We have waited so long and now we can do it.

"The fire has given us a bit of time for reflection. We wanted to make it more about the customers and the feel, than the numbers.

"We're always 'glass half full' - we just really made it work for us.

"I'm just so stoked!"

Falmouth Packet:

Fish and seafood plays a big part of the new menu at Amélie

Alongside structural repairs, the layout of the restaurant has been remodelled to combine casual dining with an informal, music-led bar area.

Sam explained: "Music was a massive part of my family life growing up, so I wanted to make sure it was at the heart of the restaurant.

"We have created a stunning bar area, with a baby grand piano, where we will be inviting musicians to play on a regular basis.”

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The new Mediterranean-inspired menu concentrates on locally-caught fish and seafood, with dishes such as crab claws, whole-baked fish and Cornish mussels taking a starring role.

There is a big focus on sharing plates, with pizzette, salt and pepper squid, and crevettes served in a choice of sizes, or as taster boards.

The new coastal-themed interior has been created by Cornish design agency A-Side.

Amélie will be operating multiple sittings of up to 40 people inside and on the covered terrace, with further outdoor seating available on the quay.

Keeping in line with Government advice, there will be table service only, a sanitisation station at the entrance, and all staff members will be wearing visors.

Sam added: “We were planning some changes to how the restaurant was going to run even before the Covid-19 restrictions were put in place, as the most important elements for us are the atmosphere and the food, and not numbers.

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“Our new interior layout makes use of lots of booth seating, which creates a naturally social-distanced private dining space for each group, meaning our guests can come and eat with us in comfort and confidence.

“We’re a family business, and I want everyone to feel welcome. I love the Mediterranean, Moroccan feel of the design and it really helps to achieve the chilled-out vibe I was aiming for.”

From Saturday the restaurant will be open seven days a week from 11am to 11pm.