A new restaurant could be open in The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge in six weeks.

Shopfitters started work on Monday on the former Chapel Restaurant, which has been empty since Mountstevens closed in July 2002.

New tenants the Boswell Group are due to open the caf in May serving drinks, breakfasts, grills, soup and sweets. There will also be a take-away service.

Boswells is a family-run business founded more than 30 years ago by managing director Jeremy Burn. Mr Burn, along with sons Nick and Matthew, operate bakery-style cafs in shopping malls, mostly in the south.

There are three Boswells in Swindon with others in Newbury, Andover, Eastleigh, Southampton and Oxford. The latest to open this month is in Emery Gate shopping centre in Chippenham.

"We recognise the needs of families, shoppers, office workers, the young and not-so-young and provide a service, menu and environment accordingly. Our menu has genuine all-day appeal, from breakfasts to lunchtime meals and afternoon sweets," said Jeremy Burn.

When Mountstevens ran the restaurant customers were allowed to smoke in the mezzanine seating area, in contrast to the rest of the mall which is no smoking, but Boswells will not be incorporating a smoking area.

"We want a smoke-free environment. We have received local feedback that suggests that non-smoking would be favoured by the majority," said Mr Burn.

The Shires centre manager Steve Murray said: "The caf is at the heart of the mall and will bring back the vibrancy to that part of The Shires with people chatting over a coffee or meal."