Pub's trade rockets after Ramsay show

Owners of a Sheffield gastropub say trade has gone "off the scale" after winning a top food award on a TV show fronted by Gordon Ramsay.

Matt Bigland and Marc Sheldon, who bought the freehold of the Milestone in 2006, said like-for-like sales were up 89% during a five-day period compared with the same time last year,

following their appearance on Ramsay's Best Restaurant earlier this month.

The 100-cover pub is virtually fully booked for the next three weeks.

Ramsay and his 30 diners arrived at the pub to sample the cuisine, which won the Best British Category part of the competition.

Bigland said: "It has been amazing, and trade is off the scale. We have people travelling just to come and see the pub. The phone has been going nuts. We even had someone booking a table from Switzerland.

"People are travelling from London and the surrounding area booking a table and then asking us to suggest hotels and B&Bs in the area. Local tourism is booming."

The pub is famed for its local produce. Chefs breed their own pigs on a local farm and ensure they use every part of the animal.

The Milestone's signature dish is rabbit loin with carrot purée, sautéed lettuce,

courgette, pig's tail and rabbit jus.

The former All Bar One managers have taken on board advice from Ramsay and streamlined the menu.

"The days were full-on. Gordon is intense and has such a wealth of knowledge you have to be on the money," added Bigland.

Bigland and Sheldon re-opened the pub in January 2007 and were picked for the show after being nominated, then beating 12,000 entries.