AROUND 20 full and part-time jobs have been created by the opening of Exeter's newest restaurant and bar.

Exeter Sausage & Grill has taken over the former premises of the Blue Fish brasserie in Queen Street.

And downstairs is a lounge bar called 44 Below.

The venue — launched with a reception for around 150 guests — has its own in-house butcher, whose sausages will be on sale for customers to take home.

Owners Melissa and Garth Pearse previously ran the Thorverton Arms pub in Thorverton for four and a half years until October last year.

"We just wanted a change," said Melissa. "We wanted to do something a bit different but which would appeal to all people."

Adding that the restaurant was focusing on local produce, she said: "All our meat is sourced from within 20 miles of Exeter and our suppliers are independent producers who are specialists in what they do.

"That includes the craftsmen who have done the refurbishment. We think it's important to support the little guys at this time especially."