Bury St Edmunds couple celebrate successful opening of Lark restaurant in Angel Hill

A husband and wife team are celebrating after the successful launch of their restaurant in Bury St Edmunds which will showcase fresh, seasonal ingredients.

James, 32, and Sophia Carn, 33, held a soft launch for their new restaurant, Lark, on Thursday for friends and family and opened to the public on Saturday evening.

The restaurant, based on Angel Hill in the former Flower Hut building, serves up small plates of food with fresh, seasonal produce at its heart.

For the couple, who have four boys ranging in age from one to 14, the restaurant opening was a massive achievement.

Sophia said: "It feels quite surreal. I don't think we've had time to process that we've actually reached this stage and achieved our goal of opening because it has been so busy in the build up.

"We both feel really proud of what we have achieved. To see the space finally as it is, we're really pleased with the outcome and the final touches.

"At the same time it is a juggle keeping a family and running a business. It is challenging."

The renovation of the building took longer than expected, pushing back the couple's opening date which had initially been planned for the beginning of December.

It took careful planning to maximise the space, especially in the kitchen area with James spending a considerable amount of time mapping out the kitchen to ensure the staff would be comfortable to work in a smaller space.

Sophia said: "As people look at the building from the front, it appears really small. It is a cosy atmosphere in here but we do also have the extension in the back which was perfect for us to convert into the kitchen."

James, who previously worked for Pea Porridge in Bury, The Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon and Tuddenham Mill, is the creative influence in the kitchen. The menu will be tweaked every day to ensure it remains seasonal.

Sophia will continue to work two days a week at West Suffolk College as a teacher trainer.

The restaurant can seat up to 24 people, depending on the layout with space for tables of six and four. As the weather gets warmer, the couple also hope to add outdoor seating.

In the coming weeks and months, James and Sophia will be working hard to ensure every customer receives quality service.

"We want to make sure that every person that comes in here has a fantastic experience and that we see our vision of what we're hoping for come to life," Sophia added.

"That's really important to us."

Lark will be open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner service. The restaurant is already fully booked for this evening and over the weekend, but there is still space during the week.