POPULAR Cambridge tapas and cocktail bar La Raza looks set to take over the running of The Maltings restaurant in Ely.

The restaurant and bar, in Ship Lane, had previously been operated by Compass Group but came in for much criticism from locals and councillors alike for its limited opening hours, which saw it closed throughout the entire winter.

The Ely Standard can now reveal that La Raza has entered a planning application with East Cambridgeshire District Council for a set of new advertising signs at the venue, heralding its imminent arrival, possibly in time for the autumn.

La Raza opened its doors in Rose Crescent, Cambridge, in 2003 and has become a permanent and popular fixture in the city, a winning formula the firm hopes to bring to Ely.

Cllr Richard Hobbs, chairman of community and environment committee, said:

“We are in advanced negotiations with a leading operator to run the restaurant at the Maltings. We hope to announce an agreement in the very near future which will ensure Ely’s Riverside remains a fantastic place to visit.”

On top of the La Raza application, the district council is also to begin work to separate the restaurant area from the visitors centre and a new storage area is to be erected to the rear of the building, understood to be work that will facilitate the arrival of the La Raza team.

A decision on the plans is expected within the next eight weeks, to view the plans, or to have a say, visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk