NORTH-EAST businessman Stephen Bell has persuaded a Maltese couple to move to the region to run his hotel's bistro and restaurant.

The convenience store millionaire, who sold his Bells Stores empire to Sainsbury's last year, has hired Victor and Victoria Vassallo at Chapters Hotel and Restaurant, in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

Mr Bell met the pair while eating at their restaurant in Malta and was so impressed with the food and ambience that he asked them to come and work for him.

Mrs Vassallo, an award-winning chef, and her husband have since leased their restaurant abroad and relocated to the newly-refurbished Stokesley eaterie.

General manager Mr Vassallo heads a team of 23 staff while his wife, who was trained under two Michelin Star chefs, runs the kitchen.

He said: "You are only as good as your last meal.

"Many restaurants open in a blaze of glory, the secret is to maintain that initial success time and time again.

"We are proud to welcome people to Chapters and are determined to maintain the high standards we have set ourselves.

"Food is our living, but it is also our passion."

Mr Bell purchased Chapters Hotel and Restaurant in February from local businessman and chef Alan Thompson, who runs the successful spin-off restaurant near the hotel, called Chapters Cafe and Deli.

In March, more than £100,000 was spent on the refurbishment of the hotel's kitchen, bistro and restaurant.

Mr Bell, who lives in nearby Great Ayton, said: "We intend to make Chapters a place to eat and stay. The feedback from customers has been very positive so far and with such a talented team in place I am certain we will go from strength to strength."

With the restaurant and Bistro up and running, Mr Bell will shortly be turning his attention to the ongoing refurbishment of the hotel's 13 bedrooms and has enlisted Antonio Camilleri to support Mr Vassallo and administer this side of the business.

Although Mr Bell has no plans to open other restaurants, he and his brother, Peter, have acquired the retail fashion outlet The House in Yarm and Harrogate, and will open a third shop in Leeds later this month.