One of Norwich's finest restaurants is set to change hands - with the new owner promising to maintain Adlard's high culinary standards. Tony Burlingham will take over Adlard's in Upper St Giles at the start of next month after negotiations with owner David Adlard lasting months.

One of Norwich's finest restaurants is set to change hands - with the new owner promising to maintain Adlard's high culinary standards.

Tony Burlingham will take over Adlard's in Upper St Giles at the start of next month after negotiations with owner David Adlard lasting months.

Mr Burlingham, 39, already owns the Beeches Hotel in Earlham Road, the Beeches Lodge Hotel in Unthank Road, Café 91 and flats in Upper St Giles, and plans to build on the restaurant's reputation and add a few innovative twists.

He said: "I am going to keep the same standards David Adlard set. It is one of the city's best-known and loved restaurants and I want to keep it that way.

"But we will be offering a package to our customers, with limousines and full concierge service to everyone who stays at Beeches or who dines in Adlard's or Café 91."

Although final plans have yet to be sealed, Mr Burlingham will be employing about seven chefs, each with specific specialities.

Consultant chef Mark Matless is among those who will be employing his skills at the restaurant - the only Michelin Star allocated restaurant in the city until it lost it last year - and has worked in restaurants in London, Italy and France.

He said: "The plan is to base the menu on different regions, and menus will have a theme where everything is sourced from a particular area. For example, there could be three different menus from Spain, France and Italy; every item of food will be from that area, organic wherever possible, and with wine from that region.

Mr Adlard declined to comment before the deal was finalised.