A NEW tapas bar with dishes inspired by popular cuisine from around the world has opened in a South Lakeland market town.

Number Nine is the newest business to open up at Kirby Lonsdale's Market Street, offering a selection of international foods as well as lagers, ales, craft beers and locally-brewed favourites.

Partners Jonny Harrison and Kirsty Anderson have started up Number Nine 18 months from beginning a similar venture with their Bentham-based premises The Angus Depot.

"We already have a business in Bentham but on a much smaller scale," said Mr Harrison. "We noticed Kirkby has a larger footfall and we saw the building had become available so we thought we would give it a go."

The menu at Number Nine is largely inspired by the travels of Ms Anderson, we spent large amounts of time on the other side of the planet experiencing a variety of different cultures and cuisines.

"Kirsty has worked in hospitality in and out since leaving school," said Mr Harrison. "She did accounting at Edinburgh Napier University and then travelled and that's where all the influence comes from and it filters through to the menu.

"It's world dishes so it doesn't really focus on a specific region. There's a bit of Asian, a bit of Indian, some English – there's all sorts really.

"Because of the tapas style of food it is the menu will frequently change as well."

Number Nine had been open as a freehouse for a couple of weeks before food service began in full last Thursday. Although the town was known to them before the business opened, Mr Harrison added the couple had enjoyed their time in Kirby Lonsdale so far.

He said: "We've known Kirkby Lonsdale for a long time, it's a bustling town and it's quite tourism based, it always seems to be busy.

"We like it a lot, we've got friends here and everyone has been supportive of what we've been doing.

"It's a case of so far so good, we're happy with how it's going."