A NEW restaurant and cocktail bar is opening beside the river in Taunton on Wednesday (May 19).

Ma Cuisine Bar and Bistro in the former Albatross restaurant premises in Riverside Place is the brainchild of Philippe Messy and Max Palmer, who already own The Little Wine Shop and Social Wine Bar, in nearby Foundry Road.

Somerset County Gazette:

The new venture will feature a cocktail bar downstairs with a good selection of whiskies, local gins, rums and bourbons, along with classic cocktails and a few new drinks created by bartender Jake.

Somerset County Gazette:

Upstairs will be a modern bistro with classic French food cooked by Vincent, Andy and their team.

Philippe and Max first met when they were working for Marco Pierre White in London in the 1990s.

Somerset County Gazette:

Philippe later worked at a number of top hotels and restaurants and was Harpers and Queen's UK Sommelier of the Year in 2004.

Max worked for Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck in Berkshire.

Somerset County Gazette:

Somerset County Gazette: