CELEBRITY chef Paul Heathcote is to open a restaurant in Bolton.

He is looking at two sites in the town as part of expansion plans for his pizza, pasta bar and grill brand, The Olive Press.

And he says he will definitely be opening by the end of 2005.

A spokesman for his company, Heathcotes Restuarants Limited, confirmed that Mr Heathcote, who has two Michelin stars, is interested in a Bolton site.

The Farnworth-born former Bolton Evening News columnist launched The Olive Press in Preston in November 2002, quickly followed by further branches in Manchester, Liverpool & Warrington.

The Bolton site is included in his plans to open a further five Olive Press restaurants before the end of 2005.

The news comes as Mr Heathcote was yet again hailed by his peers - this time as a boss. He has been awarded the title of "Lancashire Director of the Year 2004" by the Institute of Directors, the country's leading management body. He received the award last week at a glittering ceremony attended by more than 500 people at the Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire.

Paul, who trained at Bolton Community College, has a string of professional awards and accolades including the Egon Ronay Chef of the Year, the Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year, the Catey Award for Independent Restaurateur of the Year - and "one of the best restaurants in the world" by the Charles Heidsieck Champagne Guide. He was also voted 2001's 'Most Influential Individual' by Theme Bar & Restaurant Magazine.