THE Bear Hotel has scored a coup in attracting renowned pizza maker Tino Pupilli to its Lawrence Room restaurant.

Pizza fans were disappointed last October when Mr Pupilli and his wife Geraldine announced they were leaving the Elm Tree in the High Street where they had been offering a pizza and pasta service for eight years.

The couple had been trying to negotiate a lease on a shop in the Market Place for a takeaway pizza service but had been encountering problems.

Andrew and Angela MacLachlan, who took over the Bear Hotel two years ago, offered him the opportunity to move into the hotel. Agreement has now been reached and Mr Pupilli will start serving pizzas on January 20. The service will be available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 10pm and on Sunday from 7pm to 9pm.

Mr MacLachlan said: "Tino will be making his pizzas behind the counter, so he will be in full view of people, which is where he likes to be.

"I am conscious there is nowhere in town to have a substantial meal between 5pm and 6pm in the evening and this will help fill that gap."

The Lawrence Rooms will continue to offer its usual lunchtime menu throughout the week.