WELL-KNOWN York restaurateurs are celebrating 21 years in the business.

When Michael and Lucy Hjort opened Melton’s restaurant in Scarcroft Road in 1990, most new restaurant businesses ended in failure, but the family team have worked to establish one of the best known restaurants in York.

Ten years ago they also opened bistro Melton’s Too, in Walmgate. Michael, who has previously worked as a sous chef for Michel Roux Jnr, said when the restaurant opened, fine dining was something almost exclusive to hotels.

He said: “Looking back, it’s astonishing how many more options there are for diners today. We are as busy as ever which demonstrates how much more common it is to eat out today.

“We have clearly seen many faces come and go, but we are delighted that many industry professionals have started their careers with us and gone on to work among the multi Michelin starred world.” The Hjort’s have gone from employing seven to about 50 people.