A popular Strete restaurant has been snapped up by a couple from Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

The Laughing Monk, the only restaurant in the coastal village, has been bought by Benjamin and Jacqueline Handley for nearly £450,000.

It had been owned by David and Trudy Rothwell for the last 20 years.

Housed in a former school dating back to 1839, the restaurant has scooped many top awards, including 'South Hams Restaurant of the Year'. It is also listed in the prestigious Good Food Guide.

Located close to the village church, the child-friendly Laughing Monk offers a spacious 60-seat ground floor restaurant and parking to the front.

The new owners say they will offer quality English and French-style cuisine using locally sourced produce where possible.

Benjamin has a very impressive CV as a chef. He has worked as executive chef at Baslow's Cavendish Hotel and Hathersage's George Hotel.

The couple will be looking to build on the restaurant's impressive reputation for fine dining.

- The Laughing Monk Restaurant, Strete, Dartmouth, TQ6 0RN. Tel: 01803 770639.