Frenchman Denis Guillemin, who now lives in Taunton, has been appointed as the new Catering Operations Manager at a Somerset garden centre’s new restaurant.

The 40-year-old, who is originally from Ainay Le Chateau in France, will run the new restaurant at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre near Taunton when it opens in April.

Denis said: “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at Monkton Elm and am really looking forward to the new restaurant opening. There is lots of planning and preparation to be done but once it opens I will be working closely with the restaurant team to make sure everything runs smoothly on a daily basis.

“I will also be helping to put together menus and am hoping to include a bit of a French twist to the dishes.”

Denis studied cookery at the Lycée Professionnel Jean Guéhenno in Saint Amand Montrond and went on to continue his studies at the Lycée Jacques Coeur in Bourges.

In his spare time he enjoys spending quality time with his family as well as cooking, baking and doing DIY.

Mike Lind, Managing Director at the award-winning, independent, family-run garden centre, said: “We’re thrilled to have Denis becoming a member of our exciting and dynamic team and we have big plans for the future of the restaurant.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing what Denis brings to the restaurant and to seeing the delicious menu he comes up with. We feel he will really enhance the team.”

The new restaurant is scheduled to open in April and will seat 350 people.

As well as the main restaurant, which will serve meals throughout the day, the facility will be home to a coffee house that will offer coffee and freshly brewed tea, including fruit and speciality teas that will complement an expanded range of cakes and biscuits from the new bakery.

There will also be a function room available for events and to be booked out for business meetings, private parties, anniversaries and even wakes.

To find out more about Monkton Elm visit www.monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk