It's laid dormant for some time, and now restaurateur Colin Knights will breath new life into the building as new brunch hot spot, The Bell House.

Serving brekky favourites with an Asian and Mediterranean twist, the menu at The Bell House will be anything but typical, owner Colin Knights said.

"I've never owned my own place but it's been a dream for a long time, I'm scared sh**less," he said.

"I was sick of working for people, I've always wanted to do something for myself and I've never had that full control to do what I want.

"I enjoy the process of creating dishes, seeing empty plates come back and people enjoying it. I enjoy cooking."

A local bloke, Mr Knights started his chef apprenticeship in 1999 at Stetson's Steakhouse where he worked for nine years.

He also had a five-year stint at The Longyard Hotel with a few cafes in between.

Built in 1866, the former St Andrew's Presbyterian Church had a life as a cafe and gift shop for years before it closed and the interior slowly deteriorated.

For the last six weeks, Mr Knights has been restoring the building with 25-foot ceilings and stained glass windows.

A new kitchen has been installed, with a coffee bar and the unruly garden has been tamed.

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The cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through to Sunday with brunch served on the weekends.

Mr Knights said the goal is to use local produce where possible.

"Things like free-range eggs from Uralla called Chook-A-Look, Early Rise bakery from Dubbo and sourcing local produce from Farmer Bob's and an orchard in Kentucky," he said.

"There's definitely a need for something away from the norm and definitely in this area there's not much around."

Mr Knights plans to open in the first two weeks of March.