AN Afro-Caribbean restaurant and bar is to open in Worcester, one of the first to bring more exotic flavours to the city.

Origin restaurant and bar is to open at 22 Foregate Street in Worcester next month at the former Cafe Mela which was an Indian restaurant.

Worcester News: WELCOME: Victoria Cullen, owner of Origin restaurant and bar which is set to open in February 2024 at 22 Foregate Street in Worcester WELCOME: Victoria Cullen, owner of Origin restaurant and bar which is set to open in February 2024 at 22 Foregate Street in Worcester (Image: Supplied)

An opening party is set to take place on Saturday, February 3 before the restaurant opens to customers the following week. The restaurant should be ready to welcome couples for a romantic meal on Valentine's Day.

A takeaway and delivery service is also expected to run from Saturday, February 10.

The arrival of a new restaurant business follows the opening of nearby Aurora Experience, a new Indian fusion restaurant in the former Postal Order pub in Foregate Street in Worcester, last December.

 

Worcester News: HERITAGE: Origin restaurant and bar in Foregate Street aims to capture the feel of Africa and the Caribbean HERITAGE: Origin restaurant and bar in Foregate Street aims to capture the feel of Africa and the Caribbean (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Victoria Cullen, the owner of Origin, is busy with tradesmen preparing the restaurant so she can welcome her first customers. Already on the walls are new paintings and murals to reflect African and Caribbean themes, a new boiler and a new kitchen.

The first customers through the doors will be able to try dishes from across Africa and the Caribbean including goat curry, Ackee and saltfish and jollof rice.

Worcester News: HOME: Origin at 22 Foregate Street will provide a taste of Africa and the Caribbean HOME: Origin at 22 Foregate Street will provide a taste of Africa and the Caribbean (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Tunisian and Nigerian traditions are also expected to feature on the menu with the restaurant an expression of her own heritage and family culinary traditions.

Born in Nigeria, her nan had both Nigerian and Caribbean heritage and her father is Nigerian while her mum is mixed race.

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The restaurant can serve around 80 people. The price range will be between around £8 and £12 for starters and between £16 and £35 for main courses.

Worcester News: CULTURE: Origin in Foregate Street aims to capture not only the taste of Africa and the Caribbean but also the look and feel of more exotic climes CULTURE: Origin in Foregate Street aims to capture not only the taste of Africa and the Caribbean but also the look and feel of more exotic climes (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

However, the idea is it will be fusion food blending different culinary traditions with steak and pasta dishes also on the menu.

Mrs Cullen said: "I'm trying to bring different cultures together and reflect the diversity of Worcester. This is my second business and I have been in the catering business for 10 years. I'm excited and looking forward to bringing new dishes to Worcester which celebrate the diversity of the city."

The bar will also serve a range of drinks and cocktails including rums, gins, Birra Moretti, Red Stripe Jamaican lager and a variety of ciders and soft drinks.

Mrs Cullen, 44, was the chef at the Red Lion in Holt Heath from 2016 to 2019.