A LANDMARK pub on the A303 has been completely revamped as a new countryside restaurant.

The Eagle Tavern sits on the main road to the north of Chard and near to Buckland St Mary. It has been taken over by La Campagna, an Italian restaurant chain owned by Flamur Doku.

He launched the first branch in Paulton in August 2015 with his brother Luan as head chef. The new restaurant and bar for Chard is the fifth in the chain.

Flamur said: “I started my career back in 2000 as kitchen porter and worked my way up in the industry to later become general manager for Zizzi, ASK Italian, Strada, and Piccolino - now part of Gino D’Acampo group of restaurants - and Brasserie Blanc of Raymond Blanc.

“My brother, two years younger, then me followed in my footsteps. He was at QUOD restaurant in the Old Bank hotels, but unlike me he never left the kitchen because that was more his passion and where he felt his best.

“So he went on to become a head chef for various other high profile restaurants and Italian restaurants.”

Luan was a head chef at La Piazza Thornbury in 2013 when he beat Jamie Oliver chefs to win the award for the most creative pizza in London.

Flamur added: “Together we found La Campagna in Paulton, and then we were joined by other experts in the industry like Piotr Skrzesinski, who was my deputy when I was working for Blanc, and Eduardo and Rezi who are both Italian with experience in the catering industry.

“Under my stewardship we have arrived in Chard with our fifth La Campagna.

“La Campagna means the country side and all our restaurants are in rural country side areas.”

The restaurant and bar is designed for you to pop in and get a coffee, enjoy some lighter bites with a glass of bubbly, stay for a business lunch, evening meal or family celebration.

La Campagna serves a combination of combination of modern and classic Italian dishes.

The bar also serves a variety of Italian wines, South West ciders, lagers and real ales on draught,and exotic cocktails. For more, go to www.la-campagna.co.uk.