TV chef Rick Stein has announced plans to open a new restaurant in Winchester.

Rick Stein, best known for his seafood dishes, has signed a lease for the former site of Jamie Oliver’s Union Jacks and is due to open late October.

It is the first of his restaurants to be opened outside of Cornwall and will be yet another celebrity-chef notch on Winchester’s culinary post.

Mr Stein said: “I love Winchester; it’s steeped in heritage, with beautiful architecture and seems to have a love of great food. Our new restaurant is about fresh fish, simply cooked. This is a big and exciting move for us, our first outside Cornwall, and we can’t wait to bring our passion for seafood to Winchester.”

Since his first flagship seafood restaurant in 1975, the Padstow-based business has grown to include five restaurants, accommodation, retail outlets and a cookery school. The business is run by the whole family – Rick, Jill and their three sons.

Ms Stein said: “The interior design of our Winchester restaurant will be understated with an urban feel and a subtle nod to our coastal roots. We want to create a space where people can enjoy relaxed dining.”

Executive chef and middle son, Jack Stein, is overseeing the menu and kitchen. He said “With a great local supplier base already established in Cornwall, we will be looking to work with high quality food and drink producers from the Winchester area.”

Youngest son Charles works for The Vintner in London and will be supplying some of the wines for the restaurant.

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “It is fantastic to hear that Rick Stein has chosen Winchester as the location for his next restaurant.

“The city has for many years been highly regarded for its food offering, as home to Europe's biggest farmers market and many unique and high quality restaurants and eateries. The Rick Stein restaurant will be a really welcome addition to this, attracting people from far and wide to the city and wider Hampshire county.”

The team is looking to recruit locally for managerial, kitchen and front of house positions.