IT'S been a remarkable start to the new millennium for Tavistock's TV Masterchef Peter Gorton — he has just become part owner of the award winning Horn of Plenty restaurant where he has cooked for the last ten years.

The 34-year-old chef has joined forces with proprietors Paul and Andie Roston who took over the Gulworthy one Michelin star restaurant a year ago.

And this week the champagne corks were popping again following the trio's purchase of famous The Carved Angel restaurant and cafe at Dartmouth from the internationally renowned chef Joyce Molyneux and her partners.

'It's a great honour for me to follow Joyce whose cooking is recognised worldwide,' said Peter. 'But then I did follow top saucier Sonia Stevenson at the Horn of Plenty — both are grand dames in the restaurant industry.'

Peter and the Rostons plan to maintain and improve the standard of cooking at the two AA rosette award winning Carved Angel and update the cafe.

Although there is a head chef already in place at the Dartmouth restaurant, Peter will visit at least twice a week to oversee the menus.

'I intend to use local suppliers and produce whenever I can and employ more people,' said Peter. 'The cafe will be fun and it will serve many different types of coffee and there will be Thai salads and exciting dishes on the menu.

'We will be running two centres of excellence here in the West Country which I think is unique.'

Since the Roston's took over the Horn of Plenty from Elaine Gatehouse last year, the restaurant has been refurbished and the coach house bedrooms are in the process of a complete makeover.

New bedrooms in the house with breathtaking views of the River Tamar have been upgraded to the highest standard.

'Acquiring The Carved Angel is a fantastic opportunity for us as we were keen to expand our activities throughout the South West and have been seeking the right restaurant,' said Paul Roston.

'Both our restaurants have a number of things in common. They are in prime positions, share a history going back 25 years and both had famous female chefs.'