KEEPING the family business going, a Hexham restaurant continues to serve the people of Tynedale two decades on.

Danielle’s Bistro owner Ricky Froldi is seeing the popular Eastgate eatery past its 20th anniversary after taking over from his father Mario in 2011.

When Mario retired, the business was passed to Ricky who had the tricky decision of whether to keep it going or to sell up.

But his decision to keep Danielle’s open through tough economic times has paid off, as the restaurant is still as popular as when Mario opened it in 1995.

Ricky said: “I am very proud to keep the family business going, although I had to decide to sell the building or keep it going when my dad retired.

“When I took over, the economy was going through a recession; food costs were going up and we had to try to drop the prices to entice people in.

“But we’ve come out the other side and it’s been to our advantage that we have been long standing and had a good reputation through that period.

“A business just starting up may have struggled during that time, but we had a good base of customers who we are very thankful for as they supported us through that time.”

Having come through the recession, Danielle’s, which specialises in Mediterranean and English cuisine, is going from strength to strength with thanks to its loyal clients.

Ricky said: “We have got a lot of regular customers so we try to keep core dishes that have been loved throughout the years, but we also change the menu more than we used to.

“It’s always nice when you get good feedback and see some people coming back three or four times a month.

“I think we are a bit different to other restaurants out there, and that is why we’ve been so successful for 20 years.”

To mark its anniversary, Danielle’s Bistro is offering a discounted three course meal on Tuesday evening. Booking is essential on (01434) 601122.