It's strange for a restaurant to also have furniture on its menu but Grape is just such an unusual outlet.

The hybrid business in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, started selling its mix of tables, chairs and three-course dinners last month.

The idea is that food and furniture are a part of everyday life so why separate them in retail?

One of Grape's owners, Al Bruce, 30, previously owned a furniture shop of the same name and his partner, Aey Soontornmalai, 25, has a background in ceramics.

Mr Bruce said: "She just walked into my old shop and asked if she could rearrange the furniture and she did a good job."

The hospitality business is in Aey's blood as her father, Ad, who runs the kitchen, owned the popular Ros Thai restaurant in Rottingdean.

Mr Bruce said customers who came to buy furniture would often enjoy the opportunity to sit down and have a meal as well. Equally, customers for the restaurant had ample time to look at the furniture and the menu - food and drink was at the front, tables and chairs at the back.

He said: "When the premises became available, a lot of people showed interest because of the position. We had to move quickly to secure them."

Almost everything that can be seen or smelt in Grape is for sale. The floors, walls, fittings and fixtures can all be ordered along with the tables, chairs, food and drink.

The furniture comes from the cream of contemporary designers.

One of the biggest names, William Warren, played a part in designing the interior with Mr Bruce.

The result are walls made from powdered marble and lime and a solid epoxy resin floor, both available exclusively through Grape.

Sam Relph