BUSINESSMAN Vince O'Neill is set to reopen his fire ravaged restaurant at historic Nappers Mite in Dorchester on Friday.

Mr O'Neill, a former vice-president of the town's chamber of commerce, will throw open the doors eight months after the business was badly damaged in a blaze.

The move comes after work on the grade II listed building was completed and the inside refurbished to open as a coffee shop, restaurant and wine bar during the day and at night.

Now members of the town's chamber of commerce, industry and tourism have backed the opening and are set to hold their own event there.

Richard Thorogood, chamber president, said: "The chamber would like to show our support for Vince and wish him the very best of luck.

"We hope to have a casino night at Nappers Mite to help him on the way."

Half of the Nappers Mite coffee shop was gutted by a blaze which broke out at about 7pm on January 29 this year.

The two-storey building, which dates from the 1600s, and some of its contents, were badly damaged by the fire - blamed on an electrical fault.

The Mite was originally built as almshouses in 1616 by Sir Robert Napper to house 'widowed men of the parish'.

In 1954 the property was sold and converted into offices, a shop, coffee shop and restaurant.

Mr O'Neill kept the restaurant side of the business open throughout the summer while the other side of the building was being repaired.

He will reopen the full restaurant and coffee shop on Friday morning after builders finish their work. Mr O'Neill said that the new complex would be slightly different, with coffee and food available during the day.

But for the first time it will be open in the evenings with a full menu and wine list.

Workmen who were called in found historic remains of the building when they ripped out the destroyed fittings.

They included a suspended wooden floor that had been installed over the original 17th century flagstones and original oak beams.

The chamber of commerce aims to hold its casino night for 60 people at Nappers Mite on October 5, with tickets costing £7.50 each.