THE Bear Hotel, Wantage, has had a pan-tastic £30,000 kitchen upgrade to beef up its menu.

Hotel owner Arkell's jointly investedin the Market Place hotel with landlords Keith and Jo Walkley-Pratt.

Improvements include what the Wiltshire brewery believes is the largest extractor fan in Oxfordshire.

Head chef Dylan Bettson said: "The kitchen is great and since it's been finished we've been busier than ever."

Director George Arkell said: "The hotel is right in the centre of Wantage and in the expert hands of Keith and Jo it’s getting busier by the week.

"Due to the increased number of customers, the kitchen was no longer really fit for purpose so we’ve installed some of the latest kitchen equipment, including the mammoth extractor fan system, in order to meet the demand for high-quality food."

The Bear has won Wantage Town Council's Best Restaurant Award two years running.

Landlord Keith Walkley-Pratt added: “We’ve run a number of Arkell’s pubs and hotels over the years but we’re probably proudest of The Bear at Wantage which is set in the heart of the local community, a great many of whom are now regular customers.

"When the townspeople support you, you know you’re doing a good job and we thank them for their continued support."

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