The oldest building still standing in Broadmead has had a new lease of life as a cafe.

The Merchant Taylors' Almshouse, at the entrance to The Mall Bristol on Merchant Street, has reopened after lying empty for more than two years.

The historic building dates from 1701 when it was built as a home for tailors who had fallen on hard times.

Until 1955, the building was Bristol's weights and measures office. Lloyds bank occupied it from this time until 1990 and after that it briefly became a French restaurant and a pub called The Almshouses.

Now Azuza cafe, it has had a £200,000 refurbishment inside, which has retained many original features, including fireplaces, staircases and a stunning wooden vaulted timber ceiling upstairs.

Its new owner is Mark Gent, 46, originally from Yate but now living in Iron Acton. Formerly a supermarket bakery manager, Mr Gent and his business partner Andrew Moyes opened the first Azuza in Marlborough in 2004, with the second Azuza opening in Hungerford just a year later.

Mr Gent said that being able to open the third Azuza in the former almshouse was "an unbelievable opportunity".

The married father of two said: "Everybody so far has been very complimentary about what we have done with the building. It was a mess when we first came in here. The character had been completely ripped out and we spent our time trying to get as much of it back as we could.

"It was hard work but very enjoyable, and I'm very happy to now be back in Bristol."

For the time being, the 140-seat Azuza is open as a cafe but it also sells bottled alcoholic drinks.