A new bar and restaurant ‘full of Italian culture’ is preparing to open its doors in Christchurch.

Baccello Wine and Cicchetti will be arriving to Christchurch High Street next month, bringing what has been described as an ‘Italian sharing experience’ to the town.

The venue will be offering the 'freshest food and most sought-after wine', as well as a space for visitors to relax and socialise.

The idea for Baccello was introduced by Yuanyi Li, a resident of the area for more than 20 years. He said: “Baccello has been something in my mind for quite a long time.

“I’ve worked in Italy for two years and I’ve travelled a lot. Italian wine and food has always been my passion.”

Baccello will boast more than 70 bottles of authentic wines sourced from across Italy, all displayed on a large map of Italy.

Many will be available by the glass, or part of weekly rotations, giving visitors the chance to try a huge variety of wines.

There will also be the ‘freshest cicchetti’- savoury snacks that are a staple of Italian cuisine.

Yuanyi said: “I want it to be a fun experience.

“We’re using engaging ways to encourage people to try different wines.”

Baccello Wine and Cicchetti will replace the existing Christchurch Wine shop, which sits between Coast Coffee and the Going for Bust charity shop.

It will follow a primarily yellow and green branding theme, which for some, could ‘ignite a memory from a past trip to beautiful Italy’.

The team are working hard to get the venue ready for a September opening and have been sharing updates on the newly launched Baccello Facebook page.

In a post on August 11, they wrote: “Baccello is a place where you can meet with friends and family, sharing timeless moments over a glass of Italian wine, individual plates of cicchetti or one of our mouthwatering sharing boards.

"Our little piece of Italy is located in the heart of Christchurch in Dorset. We hope to see you soon — keep an eye on our socials for updates from our team.”

An opening date for BACCELLO has not yet been confirmed, but the team will be posting updates on their Facebook page.