A chef has spoken of her excitement in taking over a pop-up restaurant for a year.

Annie Coplestone, 35, from Lyme Regis is taking on residency of the Pop-Up Kitchen on Broad Street for the next year with her restaurant, Fennel Tapas.

Having worked as a chef for the past 15 years in fine dining restaurants - such as Morito in London - Ms Coplestone is no stranger to the kitchen.

“It’s what I know, and I love doing something creative but it can be hard work," she said.

“I used to cook for 120 people in a service, I am used to cooking and it’s good fun really.”

Ms Coplestone has previous experience with the Pop-Up Kitchen and ran the Monmouth Table at the same venue. She briefly bought the shop next door but had to leave work after having twins. Now the twins are three-years-old, she said it was a good time to go to work.

Always wanting to use fresh items, Ms Coplestone said: “I go to the Axminster market every Thursday and write the menu afterwards from what I am able to find. The food changes every week and I only do fish as we’re by the sea.”

Annie Coplestone with fresh fishAnnie Coplestone with fresh fish (Image: Fennel Tapas) “I love Spanish and middle eastern food and I’m very well trained in fine dining, but I want to keep it informal.

Fennel Tapas will be open at the Pop-Up Kitchen on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for now, but Ms Coplestone has warned that so far, spaces have proved hard to come by. She said: “Local people are important and the market I’m catering for as they are there all year round. I like to think I’m very friendly and people won’t be expecting an expensive meal.

Food at the Fennel TapasFood at the Fennel Tapas (Image: Fennel Tapas)

“Week on Week as people heard about it, fully booked on Saturday’s at the moment as of last weekend.

“You can tell people have heard about it, have heard that it’s good, and I have a lot of people returning. One couple came every week before they went on holiday.”

Featured food from Fennel Tapas has included lemon sole in brown butter with capers, scallops and nduja butter as well as patatas bravas.

Too book a table, email fenneltapas@gmail.com.