HATCH, a popular St Albans eatery, is set to move from its well-known location on Holywell Hill.

Having closed last Sunday (September 24), the café and restaurant will reopen in Christopher Place tomorrow (Tuesday, October 3).

HATCH will take up the former Honest Burgers and Carluccio's unit, next door to Wagamama.

The Herts Advertiser took a sneak peek inside the site and spoke with owner Chris Evans.

READ MORE

"The main reason for the move is that we have outgrown our old site on Holywell Hill", the owner began.

"On a Saturday we were consistently turning away as many as we were seating.

"Customers were always saying 'you need a bigger site'.

"So, we have been actively looking for a bigger site for a couple of years now. We've come close a couple of times and not got over the line.

Herts Advertiser: The interior of HATCH, in Christopher Place.The interior of HATCH, in Christopher Place. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"It was something that we've been planning for a couple of years.

"The second reason is that a bigger site allows us to be the brand that we've always wanted to be, and do the things that we set out to do but have been unable to do because we've been limited by space."

Herts Advertiser: HATCH's owner Chris Evans, outside the Christopher Place site.HATCH's owner Chris Evans, outside the Christopher Place site. (Image: Pearce Bates)

In its new location, HATCH has been split into a café area and a restaurant area, allowing customers to choose whether they wish to have a sit down meal or a quick coffee and a snack.

Pictures of HATCH's former sites on Holywell Hill and The Maltings adorn the walls of the Christopher Place eatery, while the café's original wooden decorations have also been incorporated.

Herts Advertiser: Original wooden board's from HATCH's former location.Original wooden board's from HATCH's former location. (Image: Pearce Bates)

Reclaimed wood has also been utilised, as was used in the kitchen of HATCH's old site in The Maltings.

Chris continued: "We wanted to be this casual dining space/coffee shop, where you can come in and just have a coffee and a cheese toastie or have a steak frites in the evening.

"We wanted to be really really stripped back, very casual and very welcoming, and open most of the time.

Herts Advertiser: The café area of HATCH's new site. The café area of HATCH's new site. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"Nowadays, with this move, we're calling ourselves a café and diner.

"We're using the word 'diner' very carefully, we don't want to be associated too much with the American-themed restaurants, which we have been mistaken for in the past.

"We're using that word in the respect that it's a very casual place to eat.

Herts Advertiser: Chris aims to create a casual dining space.Chris aims to create a casual dining space. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"We wanted to do that from day one, but very quickly realised that - if we were going to be busy and doing that on Holywell Hill - there just wasn't enough room.

"There wasn't enough equipment in the kitchen, not enough electricity in the building, not enough storage for the food.

Herts Advertiser: Café and restaurant sections are included in HATCH's new site.Café and restaurant sections are included in HATCH's new site. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"The building wouldn't allow us to do the hours that we wanted, and therefore we couldn't be the concept that we wanted to be.

"This is the last step of achieving that."

Herts Advertiser: HATCH's former site on Holywell Hill.HATCH's former site on Holywell Hill. (Image: Google Maps)

Speaking of HATCH's former site on Holywell Hill, Chris added: "We're quite sentimental, it's a great space.

"We've got a few more years left on the lease, so we are hoping to launch something else there in January."