A Bath restaurant is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

The Walrus and Carpenter in Barton Street prides itself on its retro and shabby chic decor and home- cooked food.

Its customers include stars from the nearby Theatre Royal and the children and even grandchildren of previous visiting tourists.

Owner Andrew Robinson relies heavily on local suppliers and believes that the future of restaurants lies with independent eateries.

He said: "Recently on the British Food Fight TV series, Gordon Ramsay identified that we as a nation do not give enough support to local independent eateries, and that we have to "break the chains" and free ourselves from mediocre chain restaurants run by the management for the shareholders' benefit, and producing formula-led uniformity.

"This approach goes hand in hand with that of the Walrus, and there is an immense sense of pride in everyone who has been a part of the Walrus's long history."

He said the restaurant had long used organic ingredients and added: "The ethos continues as it always has been: if we cannot make it ourselves, then we do not sell it, even down to the mayonnaise."

Mr Robinson was a customer for the first 12 years of the venue's life and bought it in 1986.

Anyone booking a table in the week beginning September 14 will get a free glass of house wine with every main course – as long as they wish them a happy birthday when they ring.