Professional Masterchef winner Claire Lara to open Wirral restaurant

Claire Lara, the winner of Professional Masterchef 2010, will be opening a new 50-seat restaurant this summer.

With a planned opening of 15 August, the restaurant will be called La Mouette and is part of the Royal Hillbre hotel and spa, a new eight-bedroom boutique hotel in an 18th century Victorian house in Hoylake on the Wirral. It is currently being renovated in the French Renaissance style and aiming for five stars.

The food will be refined modern European, while the restaurant will also serve afternoon tea and offer private dining for 25. Michel Roux will be cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony.

Lara won the Professional Masterchef competition when pregnant with her son and will be working with her husband Marc. "My son George is nearly five months and will be nine months when we open. It will be the first time back in the kitchen and I am very much looking forward to the madness.

"Since having George I haven't worked in this sort of environment and am hoping it's just like riding a bike and you never forget," she said.

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By Gemma Rowbotham

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