A FORMER hospital chef is celebrating after winning an award within weeks of opening his first restaurant.

John Pears, owner of Giovanni's Restaurant, at the Hat and Feather pub, near Med-omsley, was given a gold award from Quality Food Online.

Mr Pears said: "I never expected it. I knew we were doing the job because people kept coming back, but this is fantastic. They said I was one of the best restaurants they visited in the area for ambience and value for money."

As part of the award, Quality Food Online will design a website for the restaurant and provide 40,000 free menus over four years.

Mr Pears was a chef at Shotley Bridge Hospital before doing work for people with learning difficulties.

He said: "I had always enjoyed cooking and done cold buffets for people and thought I had the personality to make a restaurant a success.

"We spent a lot of money converting the first floor of the pub into restaurant and opened on February 10."

Giovanni's, which can cater for 50 people, specialises in Italian and English cuisine, using only fresh produce from local farms and fish markets.

Chef Mark Johnston has worked at leading hotels and restaurants throughout the country, including Gleneagles, in Scotland, and Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle.

Mr Pears, who is known for his roles in the annual pantomime at Consett's Empire Theatre, has now taken over the pub as well.