Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc said he was very much looking forward to reopening his restaurants that were “as much a part of the community as the theatres, cinemas and museums”.

Guests can once again enjoy a stunning meal at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Great Milton, 40 Brasserie Blancs – including M Blanc's own regular hangout in Jericho - and The Black Horse in Thame.

He said: "Lockdown has proved to people how important restaurants are for meeting friends, laughter, joie de vivre and being looked after by young people that smile.”

He said he had nearly 100 bookings last night at both Le Manoir, which is fully booked until September, and the brasserie nearly all from local people.

And after service at the Manoir, he was heading back to Oxford to say hello to his brasserie team.

M Blanc spent three weeks training his team in Covid protocols and expects to lose 40 per cent of his income at the brasseries because of the need for customer spacing.

When he opened the Thame pub three years ago he said it was fully booked by his own staff.

“It’s a beautiful pub and it was absolutely packed. But we were giving 50 per cent staff discount so we had to put a limit on it – it shows what great food can do.

“People come to a pub maybe once a month but to Le Manoir maybe once a year. The pub is affordable but we have the same suppliers so it’s quality at a price that is much more affordable.”

When the call came for lockdown to begin, it was with a heavy heart that M Blanc was forced to furlough most of his staff, give away his food to the community, and retreat in isolation to his own home in North Oxford.

M Blanc said many of his staff, many of whom are young Poles, French or Germans, could not go back to their homes for five months during the lockdowns and were especially happy to be open again.

On Sunday night he treated them to two tasting menus with wine – “no one was driving” - so they could understand the guest experience.

Last year M Blanc spent a month at the John Radcliffe Hospital fighting coronavirus and was admitted to a high dependency unit.

After he recovered he promised to throw a 'huge thank-you party' at Le Manoir and Brasserie Blanc for all the staff at the hospital.

So how are the plans progressing?

He said: “I am always true to my word. I want to invite the nurses, the catering staff, all the people who really run that business.

“I would like to thank the NHS with a lovely local party probably at the end of June. I spent a month in hospital and they were amazing.”

Of his frightening experience, he said: “Of course it changes you. You realise how fragile life is. You always think your health is so strong and then ‘bang’. 

He added that the mental recovery was more difficult than the physical because of feelings of anxiety.

M Blanc admitted he still gets up early to exercise but added: "Now I will pace myself a little bit more – not always going at 250mph.

“I am still extremely involved in the restaurants but I will try to delegate more.”