AWARD-WINNING chef Paul Heathcote has taken his flagship Longridge restaurant off the market after four months.

Mr Heathcote had put the Higher Road restaurant up for sale in March after 20 years, saying he wanted to focus on growing his Olive Press brand.

At the time he said the restaurant was ideal for someone who wanted to run just one restaurant, and said he had received expressions of interest from staff within the Heathcotes team.

But he has now taken the restaurant off the market and brought back former manager and head chef team Kath and Chris Bell.

The pair, who currently run the White Bull pub at Ribchester, managed the restaurant until 2006, during which time it secured a Michelin star.

Kath was manageress at the restaurant for seven years and Chris, the winner of a Gordon Ramsey scholarship, was head chef.

Mr Heathcote said the emotional impact of planning to sell the restaurant had forced him into a change of heart, and with Kath and Chris back at the helm he felt the restaurant could pack the punters in again.