A POPULAR steak restaurant has been launched as a new kitchen-style restaurant and cafe.

Chop Bloc, in Chelmsford City Centre which opened in the city four years ago, has relaunched and rebranded as a completely different venue called Grays Yard.

Owners Dave and Steve Patten decided to close Chop Bloc for a month after Christmas for a complete refurbishment along with a new layout and menu.

When you walk into the new Grays Yard restaurant, it’s clear that this is a very different venue to Chop Bloc.

The downstairs has been completely transformed into a Kitchen and Cafe which is open during the day for breakfast, lunch and brunch.

This is a huge departure from the former Chop Bloc which was had a more formal lunch and dinner offering.

The owners wanted a garden feel for the new ground floor venue so it’s full of hanging plants, ivy and greenery and it’s been redesigned to have a casual, kitchen feel.

The garden feel continues to the new outside area with tables and chairs and attractive plants.

During the evening, between 4 and 5pm every day, the ground floor will be closed while the Kitchen and Cafe is transformed into the Grays Yard bar.

Bosses made the decision to move the cocktail bar which was on the second floor to the ground floor.

Customers can can still enjoy a cocktail or a drink in the daytime but it turns into a proper bar in the evenings.

It is the latest new restaurant to be launched in the city.

Last week, the Times revealed a new high-end Indian inspired restaurant is coming to the city.

Bridge Street Bar and Grill in Writtle is about to become the Indian restaurant.

It will be called Pakwaan at Bridge Street and focus on offering a wide variety of Punjabi dishes.