An established restaurant has started the new year with a name change to mark the business’ success since it changed hands.

THOMPSON@Darcy’s reopened with the name of THOMPSON St Albans on Friday after taking a short break after Christmas.

The restaurant was set up by Australian duo Kate D’Arcy and Ruth Hurren in 2002 and was originally called Darcy’s.

After Kate died of cancer in 2010, and following a three further years in business, Kate’s best friend and business partner Ruth moved back to Australia, handing the business over to Phil Thompson in 2013.

She told the Herts Advertiser at the time: “I have waited for the right opportunity and the right person to come and take Darcy’s forward, and it’s only since meeting Phil that I knew it was time to go home.”

The name change comes after two successful years of business. Phil told the Herts Advertiser: “When we took over the restaurant we thought it would be nice to keep Darcy in the name, out of respect.

“It was the business’s brand in the area but we’ve been here for two years now and moved the menu on and established our own reputation. We have regular guests who often say we should lose the Darcy, so now we have.

“Kate is still remembered in many ways, especially through the Kate D’Arcy award at the Food and Drink festival.”

Kate’s ashes still remain on the restaurant’s terrace. A statement on the website reads: “We hope Kate D’Arcy would be proud of how we have evolved what was very much her restaurant. Kate D’Arcy was a huge part of the success of the restaurant.”