A PUB in Abingdon is being taken over by a Michelin-starred chef.

Swiss-born Michael Riemenschneider used to run the Michelin-starred Abbey restaurant in Penzance and the Juniper in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

His arrival at The Broad Face in Bridge Street is the latest boost for Abingdon town centre.

The Crown & Thistle Hotel, also in Bridge Street, was bought by pub chain Oakman Inns for £1.6m in September, and JD Wetherspoon is taking over the Old Post Office in High Street.

Mr Riemenschneider, 30, said: “I checked out all the local pubs and there is a big need for good food at affordable prices.

“When Greene King asked us to run The Broad Face, I hung out in it for an hour and it just didn’t get busy. But the pub has a lot of potential. It is in a nice central location and Abingdon is very friendly.”

The Broad Face was run by Dushan Salwathura from August 2009 until September last year, when he took over the nearby Nag’s Head and reopened it as a gastro pub.

Jamie McLean, who also runs Greene King’s Old Anchor Inn in St Helen’s Wharf, took The Broad Face under his wing but, earlier this month, Greene King announced it would be looking for a new tenant.

Tony Goulding, of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “The Broad Face is a challenge, and Camra praises anybody who takes it on.

“Our ideal would be a beer pub that serves food as a back-up, but if it needs food to survive, and provided it sells real ales, we will support it.”