A FAMOUS fashion designer known for his transformations of high street clothing collections has turned his good taste to a new venture in Broadway.

George Davies, the man behind clothing lines such as Per Una at Marks & Spencers and George at Asda, has opened a new restaurant in the village alongside business partner and restaurateur Barry Hancox.

Prego is set to bring a taste of Italy to the village and on first impressions is sure to prove a big hit.

The restaurant, in the High Street, held an opening event on Sunday evening in preparation for its first customers tonight and welcomed people from all over the country to sample its fare.

On arrival at the event, which also served to celebrate George’s birthday, we were greeted with a glass of Prosecco, which was most welcome on the cold night.

The building was very inviting with candles flickering in the window and a stylish interior, which is quite appropriate given its famous owner, who was in high spirits on the night and greeting his guests with gusto.

After being seated, we were presented with a reduced menu for the evening with three starters available, which included the Prego anti-pasto board, a ravioli of ricotta and spinach, light tomato and basil sauce and carpaccio and tartar of gilthead bream.

The offerings were delicious and the staff were very attentive, working hard on their first night.

For the main course there was a choice of slow-cooked flank of beef with sage polenta, pan-fried salmon or risotto of butternut squash and St Eadburgha’s cheese.

I opted for the salmon, served with orange and spring onion, which was very juicy and full of flavour.

I also grabbed a taste of the exceptionally tender beef and was most impressed.

Dessert was either tiramisu or vanilla panna cotta, both of which were deliciously refreshing at the end of a lovely meal.

Chef Pietro Di Marco, who arrived in the UK from Florence just weeks before the opening, prepared the dishes with his team in an open kitchen, bringing an authentic taste of Italy to the Cotswolds.

The night proved a great success and, speaking during the night, George and Barry thanked everyone who had helped complete their newest project mixing food and fashion.

For more information, visit pregobroadway.co.uk.