Television chef James Martin is at the top of a wish-list of celebrity names a Saltaire business hopes will help it create a recipe for business success.

The Old Tramshed Bar and Restaurant is replacing its Jimmy G’s play centre with a food hall and delicatessen selling local produce.

Yorkshire’s Kitchen will also offer cookery classes, run by Tramshed chefs, and managing director Andy Billingham plans to approach big names to share their top tips too.

“Jimmy G’s has been there since the 1980s and the market has changed dramatically in that respect. There’s a lot more of them now and a lot more competition,” said Mr Billingham.

He said the play gym was in need of updating and it made sense to invest in something more profitable.

He said: “We’ve grown the business dramatically in the last two years. The restaurant side has picked up. A lot of good restaurants offer shops and delis.

“People can hopefully enjoy the quality of our food at home,” Mr Billingham added.

Bradford Council has given the go ahead for the change of use at the play centre, which takes up about two-thirds of the building on Bingley Road.

Mr Billingham said: “We’re delighted to have finally got planning permission.”

The venture will be stocked by regional suppliers, which the restaurant already uses, but also offer a taste of the Continent.

He said: “All the meat and veg, everything we can possibly buy local, we will buy locally. It all fits together very well.

“It will offer fresh food, chilled and frozen foods and meals.

“We very much hope to create a nice indoor market feel,” said Mr Billingham.

“There will be a large kitchen table in the middle of the room where people will be able to have a nice cup of coffee or pasta while they’re doing their shopping.”

Saltaire deli owner Matt Coxon, of Cheese and Chutney, said: “You never know how these things will effect you. You can worry about all sorts of things, then half the time there’s nothing to worry about.

“Anything which brings more people to the area can be a good thing.”

Mr Billingham hopes to open Yorkshire’s Kitchen at the beginning of the summer.