A WELL-KNOWN North Yorkshire restaurant has reopened under new management.

Gepetto’s Italian restaurant in Helmsley has opened its doors with a new manager in place after Dino Valenghi, who has owned the restaurant for 18 years, decided to retire.

He has handed over the reins to Francois Strydom, owner of The Fat Chef Company, with whom he has been working for several years.

Mr Strydom is an experienced chef and business owner. He moved to the UK in 2005 and worked for the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group’s chain of Italian restaurants.

Three years ago he launched an event catering company, The Fat Chef Company, which provides food for festivals, weddings and parties and consultancy for restaurants.

Gepetto’s, based on Bridge Street in Helmsley reopened this month (January).

Mr Strydom said: “This was a fantastic opportunity and one we just couldn’t say no to. Dino has done an amazing job with the restaurant, and he will be sadly missed – although hopefully we’ll still see plenty of him.

“We will do him proud.”