ITALIAN chef Paulo Nota has transformed a 250-year old pub into his 37th restaurant worldwide.

Mr Nota’s sixth Kent restaurant is the Terracotta in Cranbrook, formerly known as The Windmill.

Where regulars have supped ales for more than 240 years, diners now enjoy Italian cuisine.

It is another sign of the changes to our eating and drinking habits. Mr Nota, who sells on most of his restaurants once they are established, is basing himself at the Terracotta.

He appreciates the pub’s history and is auctioning off the old sign of The Windmill in aid of Kent Air Ambulance.

Mr Nota, who originally wanted to be a concert pianist and has put a baby grand piano in the restaurant for special musical occasions, said: "Everyone in the area knows The Windmill pub so rather than throwing away an important piece of local history, we though it should be put to good use."

Cllr Ron Wheeler, the mayor of Tunbridge Wells, said there was a shortage of restaurants in the area and told the chef: "It is going to be an enormous asset to Cranbrook, as it has been elsewhere in Kent."

Mr Nota also owns the Casonova Restaurant in Maidstone Road, Rochester.