A HELENSBURGH restaurant was honoured last week to receive a visit from one of Britain’s best known celebrity chefs.

Great British Bake Off legend Prue Leith CBE dined out with friends at Cattle and Creel on West Clyde Street.

And staff were left ecstatic when she praised both the fresh seafood and slick service.

The former judge of Great British Menu started into seared hand-dived scallops with chorizo and squid ink aioli before tucking into grilled langoustines with garlic butter and an Affogato for dessert.

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Her two friends enjoyed Hebridean mussels with white wine and garlic broth as well as Tarbet- landed lobster grilled in garlic butter.

Manager Jemma Balmforth said: “The chefs recognised her when she walked in and we checked the booking and the name was Leith.

“She said she’d never been before and was really looking forward to trying the food.

“She ordered Mary’s langoustines which we collect ourselves from a fisherwoman in Tarbert and when we took them to her table she said they looked and smelled delicious.”

Afterwards she praised the service with Jemma and supervisor Sushi Crockett and stopped at the kitchen pass to sign an autograph and tell the chefs how much she’d enjoyed the meal.

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Jemma added: “She thanked us very much and said the service had been great and she’d thoroughly enjoyed everything. She seemed really happy.

“She was very gracious and her visit has created a great buzz about the restaurant.

“It was a real pleasure to look after her and her friends and we hope she visits us again.”

The British-South African restaurateur, chef, broadcaster and food critic has written 12 cookbooks as well as novels and established the prestigious Leith School of Food and Drink in London.

Her visit came just two weeks after Cattle and Creel launched new seasonal lunch and A la Carte menus under new executive chef Jamie Nicolson.

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Multi-award-winning Jamie has more 20 years experience and has worked at the world famous Michelin starred Le Gavroche in London as well as with founder Albert Roux in Scotland.

Cattle and Creel owner Cara Nikolic, who also owns La Barca Tapas and Padrone Pizzeria in the town with husband Milan, added: “We are delighted to have Jamie working with us and a new team in the kitchen.

"To get such fantastic feedback from an industry legend like Prue is brilliant and the icing on the cake.”

Judge Prue is expected to appear again in The Great British Bake Off when it returns to Channel 4 in August.