THE nation's favourite interior designer showed what a good sport he is as he paid a visit to a brand new kitchen, bathroom and decorating showroom in Bourton this week.

Best known for hosting the BBC TV series Changing Rooms and for being one of the judges on ITV's reality series Popstar to Operastar, in 2010, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen wasted no time in hopping into a bath to try it for size at the new Obsidian Kitchen and Bathroom and Bence Decorating Centre in Bourton Business Park.

The flamboyant homestyle consultant was at Obsidian on Thursday with his wife, Jackie, to officially open the Cotswolds-based venture of the George Bence and Sons group.

The company, which has a base in Cheltenham, is Gloucestershire's leading independent builders merchants which was established in 1854.

Over recent years the family-run business has branched out and has opened a series of kitchen, bathroom and decorating showrooms with the site in Bourton being the third project in two years.

The showroom houses a wide range of products and brands. There is also an extensive range of decorating products from paints to wallpapers and equipment, including Llewelyn-Bowen's own range of wallpapers.

Paul Bence, managing director of the 161-year-old, sixth generation business said: "After extensive market research we concluded that there was a clear gap in the region for a specialist, locally run decorating centre. We have spent considerable time finding the right location and the right brands to collaborate with. Our Obsidian kitchen and bathroom showroom is already a success in Cheltenham and opening a second branch in Bourton is part of our long term strategy to develop our exciting concepts and products to the wider Cotswold area.

"Across the group this is our third branch and fifth endorsed brand including Bence Building Supplies, Bence Eco, Bence Roofing Supplies, Obsidian and now Bence Decorating with further regional presence targeted in the near future’

The new branch was installed and completed in less than five weeks.

Launching the new branch, Mr Llewelyn-Bowen said: "

"I have known Paul for a while now and I think that Bence’s are extraordinarily impressive. As a nation we love our independent brands and we love shopping in independent retail environments.

"When you are dealing with family businesses and it's a business you have known for along time it makes it incredibly personal," he said.

"In my field of how we decorate our homes it means so much to be able to talk to people that you know and trust. That's why I think a brand like Bence's isn't just surviving, it's going from strength to strength."

Mr and Mrs Llewelyn-Bowen also became Bence Decorating Centre’s first clients as they purchased a set of brushes and a Stanley knife.