A NEW restaurant has been launched in a Hampshire high street during lockdown.

In a time when most restaurant owners are just looking forward to opening again, one family went a step further and decided to open a second restaurant.

EVI Artisan Bakehouse on Eastleigh's high street has now opened on for takeaway only whilst it waits for the full opening when restrictions are eased.

The new eatery, which is owned by the family that run the Artisen Meze restaurant just across the street offers traditional, stone baked and sourdough pizza's with a "Turkish twist".

Evi was originally supposed to open last May, but because of coronavirus restrictions delaying preperation works, the opening was held back by almost a year.

Now though, the business is finally ready to go, with owners saying "Launching a new business in the middle of a global pandemic has been a bumpy ride, but one we are finally happy to bring to you."

Oz Yalvac, who has been preparing the business with his father and siblings will be general manager when Evi opens fully.

He said: "You can see that shops are closing on the high-street and we just want to bring back business into Eastleigh for the community.

"For Evi we are focussing on being able to provide food for all sorts of people including vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, all specialities we are trying to push through to them as well.

"Before covid became apparent we wanted the place to be nice, spaced out, relaxed and have a warm environment inside and because we planned it out like that, when covid came out it was already covid compliant."

Prices are said to range from £10.99 to £15.95 currently but this is something the owners are trailing.

All ingredients are said to be locally sourced and having opened last Tuesday for takeaway only, Oz claimed feedback had been "really positive" so far.

He added: "The weather was terrible but we've had good support from locals and we're getting good feedback on social media as well so it seems like people are ready for it and they want it.

"We've been using social media from our other business as well and I think people are just happy to see that there is a local alternative to what is already available."