A food and drink chain has confirmed it is taking over a boarded-up former Indian restaurant in St Albans city centre.

Oakman Inns and Restaurants is planning to convert the former Veer Dhara restaurant into The Beech House – an all-day food and drink establishment.

The company opened a similar operation in Beaconsfield a year ago under the name of The Beech House.

Oakman Inns chief executive, Peter Borg-Neal, said: “We’ve decided to use The Beech House name again as the St Albans’ site is in a similar, modern style of building based in the busy pedestrian-friendly centre of St Albans on the corner of St Peter’s and Catherine Streets.”

The chain will carry out an £800,000 refit in the next few months with the opening scheduled for July. Thirty new jobs will be created.

Veer Dhara was forced out of the premises in February after a dispute over rent with the then leaseholders Pizza Hut. The redundant restaurant, which is close to the new Premier Inn that is under construction, was then boarded up.

Darshit Singh Hora, the owner of Veer Dhara, is now looking to open a new restaurant elsewhere in St Albans.