CELEBRITY restaurateur Paul Heathcote is shedding more than half of his restaurant empire —- and is looking for a buyer for the Olive Press in Bolton.

The Bolton-born and trained chef wants to concentrate on his core restaurants including his flagship restaurant at Longridge which he opened 20 years ago.

He wants to don his chef’s whites and return to his first love of cooking by getting more involved in the kitchen of his Longridge restaurant where he held the rare accolade of two Michelin stars for several years.

Mr Heathcote, who was born and brought up in Bolton and trained in the catering department of Bolton Community College, says he wanted to make major changes to his life when he reached 50.

Having achieved the halfcentury milestone last month he has kept his promise and sold five of his nine strong restaurant chain to Knutsford-based bar and restaurant group Living Ventures for an undisclosed sum.

He is also seeking a buyer for the Olive Press in Nelson Square, Bolton, while the revamped Clitheroe restaurant has just re-opened and the Preston site will probably be rebranded.

Mr Heathcote said: “I am looking to sell the Bolton restaurant and we are in discussions with various people.

About 20 full and part-time people work there.

“I have spent the last 15 to 20 years driving around all the restaurants and now the core restaurants in Preston and Clitheroe are just 20 minutes from where I live and the Bolton restaurant is just too far away. I am looking forward to running a smaller, more focused family restaurant business.

“The deal will allow me to concentrate on gaining recognition for a small group of restaurants.

“I have high ambitions for my original restaurant and the new Clitheroe one which opened this week. I had two Michelin stars for six years so I know what it takes to get one star and we are not far from it.”

Now while working more in the kitchen but having fewer restaurants to manage he hopes to lessen his workload and spend more quality time with his wife, and children, a daughter aged aged 14 and a son aged 12.

Living Ventures has bought three Olive Press-branded outlets at Cheadle Hulme, Liverpool and Manchester city centre as well as the Spanish restaurant, Grado, on New York St in Manchester and the London Road restaurant in Alderley Edge.