WORK has begun on the creation of Oxford’s first Russian restaurant under the watchful eye of young entrepreneur Victoria Tsoy.

Moscow-born Ms Tsoy, 24, said: "It's going to be a lot of work, but there is a demand."

The menu will feature traditional Russian dishes, such as borscht, kotleti and pelmeni, as well as Russian drinks, including vodkas. Dishes from neighbouring Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will also feature.

Ms Tsoy came to Oxford as a student four years ago and fell in love with her husband. Mustafa Barcho, a Kurdish, chef at the former Euphrates restaurant in Cowley Road.

She secured the lease on the ground floor premises at 84 Cowley Road with the help of commercial property lawyer Graham Atkinson, of Withy King Solicitors in Oxford.

Work has now started to gut, renovate and refurbish the premises, previously a Polish restaurant. She hopes to open later in the summer.