The Grade I-listed Bluecoat arts centre in Merseyside, Liverpool, will reopen its new 80-cover restaurant on 8 November, after an electrical fire destroyed it in May 2008.

The refurbishment of Upstairs at the Bluecoat follows completion of the centre's £12.5m redevelopment, which was finished in March 2008. The restaurant was created by Rotterdam-based architects biq- architecten, part of the original redevelopment design team, and construction work was carried out by Whittakers Shopfitters.

The cost of the refurbishment has been covered by insurance. The restaurant was restored back to its pre-fire design, with the addition of commissioned artwork that will appear on the tables.

As well as Upstairs at the Bluecoat, the redevelopment resulted in a new arts wing with four galleries, 13 offices and 13 artists' studios as well as six retail units and an expresso coffee bar. The centre also now boasts a 200-seat performance space and various areas to host corporate and social events. The design team includes architects Donald Insall Associates and Austin Smith Lord.

The venue has presented the works of renowned artists such as Picasso, Gauguin, Yoko Ono, Jeremy Deller, the Chapman Brothers and Martin Creed.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of North West Development Agency, said: "Bluecoat is one of the city’s architectural gems. It is also a fantastic resource for contemporary artists, helping to support creative and cultural industries on Merseyside.”