A FAMOUS St Andrews restaurant, housed in a glass and steel structure overlooking the North Sea, has been acquired by an up-and-coming hospitality entrepreneur.

Stefano Pieraccini, son of award-winning hotelier and restaurateur Adrian Pieraccini, has lined up a £100,000 revamp of the Fife town’s Seafood Restaurant after taking over from long-standing owner Tim Bugler.

The 22-year-old, whose family owned Inverness boutique hotel Rocpool Reserve and the Rocca restaurant in St Andrews, has already renamed the venue Seafood Ristorante, reflecting a shift to Italian-style quality dining. The number of covers has increased to 80 from 44.

The marketing and commercial management graduate, who will be mentored by his father, is joined by former Michelin star chef Davy Aspin. Mr Aspin, a long-term associate of the Pieraccini family, leads the kitchen, supported by head chef Ian Syme and Jamie McKinnon, recently-crowned Scotland’s Young Chef of the Year.

Mr Pieraccini, who grew up in the trade, said: “I consider myself very lucky to be in charge of a restaurant in such a spectacular location.”