NEVER mind that the heavens have opened again and Glasgow has been shrouded in dreich grey clouds for the last few days.

A west end restaurant is determined diners should hold on to the last remnants of summer for as long as possible - and it is a bright and breezy breath of fresh air.

Italian restaurant Zizzi has launched Glasgow’s first fully immersive dining space in the city in a bid to bring the best parts of summer indoors (even if it feels like snow is on the way outside...)

Customers have the chance to dine in a bona fide summer oasis, complete with grass, summer swing seats, cute hanging lanterns and a plethora of plants, all designed to bring al fresco dining indoors.

It is like stepping outside as you go inside, and some creative designers have gone to town with fantastic finishing touches like the garden shed vibe (complete with rake and spade), sunny yellow paintwork and pretty plant pots.

The best seat in the house is the swing seat tucked away in the corner - it is your own special little corner of summer.

To help diners further get into the summer mood, the restaurant will also be giving one lucky table each day a round of drinks, including Aperol Spritz and Passionfruit Punch, on the house.

The restaurant’s special three-course summer set menu (which is available in its restaurants throughout Scotland for £17.95) features tantalising new dishes such as rainbow gnocchi and golden honeycomb cheesecake.

The former is mouth-wateringly delicious - filled with oozy mozzarella and topped with riserva cheese, it comes with a zingy red pepper tapenade for dipping.

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The latter is heaven on a plate - a lovely helping of honeycomb cheesecake, topped with golden, shimmering meringues, honeycomb bites and a salted caramel sauce.

Other mains on the summer menu include the crayfish orzotto, a risotto with a twist. Using orzo pasta, tossed in a rich lemon butter sauce with crayfish and spinach, it is finished with pea shoots and lemon.

Vegan diners are catered for too, on the summer menu - the vegan rustica quattro no-maggi is a ‘cheese’ pizza topped with four varieties of mozzarisella (original, smoked, cheddar and blue), and smoky sunblush tomatoes with basil.

(Regular Zizzi diners and fans of the friendly west end restaurant will know that their signature pizza is hand stretched that bit further for a bigger base, a crispier texture and more toppings. They also offer a range of Italian favourites with added Zizzi twists, like guilt-free skinny pizzas or Zizzi Spiedini, a Mediterranean hanging skewer of oven roasted meat or fish served over Tuscan potatoes.)

Rachel Hendry, who is head of marketing at Zizzi, says: “We’re delighted to be bringing the best parts of summer inside with our summer oasis in Glasgow.

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“We want our diners to feel like they’re enjoying a real summer experience – with great food and drink, while relaxing with friends and family.”

Tucked away on Cresswell Lane, off Byres Road and close to the University of Glasgow, Zizzi West End is one of three in the city.The others are in Princes Square and Royal Exchange Square.

Its walls are covered with the designs of talented students from Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art.