THERE'S a new chef on the block in Newport town centre. With more than 30 years experience Chris Beale is back in his home town weaving his magic in the kitchen at Harvey's Bar and Bistro in the High Street.

Chris, who trained at Cardiff, spent 15 years with Berni Inns and another 15 at the Royal Oak, at Machen where he specialised in good old-fashioned home cooking using fresh ingredients.

So, will he be dreaming up something special for Mother's Day? He was keeping mum about that although he did indicate the bistro's menu "had every quality" a diner wished.

"I am not intending to change the menu which I regard as excellent," he said, adding: "Choice and price are first-class."

The bistro has been open for nine months and already has gained excellent support from its customers, who, said a delighted spokeswoman for the bistro. "just keep coming back for more".

With eight starters ranging from Mediterranean seafood salad to fresh melon fans with rosemary and raspberry coulis and eight main courses headed by tasty grilled Welsh lamb cutlets down to four steak and fish dishes with speciality sauces, the menu lives up to its claim of "at last, a quality restaurant in Newport".

The restaurant opens at 12 noon through to 3pm and then 5pm to 10.30pm Monday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday opens at 12 noon and goes through to midnight. The popular Sunday lunch - 12 noon to 3pm - has four courses for £7.50.

For entrepreneurial owners Dave and Julie Barton, who learnt their trade in some of the best hotels in the UK, Harvey's is their third acquisition and early hopes that it would appeal to lunchtime diners and in the evening to professional people, as well as couples and parties of people out for a night on the town, have proved right.