BUSINESS has been far from sleepy for one Okehampton restaurant — it has enjoyed a flow of customers since celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay came to town.

Martins' Bistro was one of two restaurants to feature in the popular  Ramsay's Great British Nightmare on Channel 4 last Friday.

And since the top chef visited the bistro in Red Lion Yard the business has turned around — a new chef has been taken on and only fresh, home-made produce is used.

The programme saw Gordon Ramsay return to the family-run bistro in December after first visiting it in July. He came back to offer his advice and expertise during the credit crunch to owners Mo and Mick Martin and daughter Michelle.

Joint owner Mo said: 'Everything is now freshly cooked from scratch and made to order. Nothing is bought in.

'We do still use Gordon's menus but most are our own, which we are really proud of and our customers seem to love.'

Ramsay's Great British Nightmares featured Martins' and a restaurant in Sheffield. At Martins', Gordon Ramsay was angered on being served lamb shank from a vacuum pack. The programme showed a stressful atmosphere in the kitchen but all that has now changed, said Mo.

'There is a calmer atmosphere since it was decided that Mick was to stay out of the kitchen.'

The bistro has taken on a new chef, Rose Drake-Davis, and has seen a marked improvement, continuing to impress customers with its home-made menus and local produce.

Mo said: 'Rose has been training up our daughter Michelle. She's come on in leaps and bounds.

'The three of us work really well together as a team. We are there for each other and we are very proud of the staff we have here.'

Michelle said: 'Rose has really helped me gain confidence with my cooking. It's great to know that if she wants to take time off, I can handle doing the menu at a weekend.

'I love the fact that everything is done from scratch. I spent an hour and a half taking the bones out of a cod which was then cooked with home-made batter.'

Last week Mick, Mo and Michelle celebrated seven years of running Martins. Mo said: 'As a family we have got through it and are feeling very positive about the future.

'People know we are a hard working family and we are determined to continue to succeed and grow as a business.'

Mo said the publicity helped put the bistro on the map.

'Having Gordon here has made people more aware of where we are and we have taken on board all his advice.

'I do still respect Gordon and at the end of the day he's a businessman and I really appreciate the guidance he gave us.'

But there was a clear personality clash between Ramsay and Mick Martin, who said the London-based chef 'always likes to come out on top'.

But Mick, 57, added: 'My wife loves him to bits because he is passionate about food. I respect him for what he taught my daughter and helped her.

'He could see she had talent — I know I am not a fantastic cook.'

As part of Gordon Ramsay's make-over, psychedelic wallpaper in the upstairs bistro was painted over — a painful moment for Mick.

Mo said: 'He really loved that wallpaper and a lot of people preferred the modern look it added to the restaurant.

'When Gordon painted over it, Mick was gutted, but what is done is done.'

The family pride themselves on their hard work and Mo said they feel happy with the way things are headed.

'We all put 110% into the business and things are really looking up for us.

'January has been great and we already have lots of bookings and functions for this month.'

The busy bistro already has two wedding receptions and a 90th birthday party booked this year.

Mo said: 'We have made a start on our Valentine and Mothering Sunday menus and are now open on Sundays for traditional lunch.'

Landlord of the premises Angus McPhie said: 'I think Gordon has inspired Martins' to move forward and make the most of local produce in the town.

'Although painful to watch in parts, they are a determined family and the way forward sometimes is to take the bad, put the problems behind you and sail forward.

'Michelle is a fantastic chef and and Mo is a strong women. Mike is great at meeting and greeting and people love speaking to him.

'Okehampton has so much going for it and having a successful, locally run restaurant can bring a lot to the town.'

Town mayor Kay Bickley said: 'A lot of people watched the show and I think Martins' Bistro will get much support from the community.

'Michelle is a hardworking young women, with the world at her feet and this is a very positive thing for her, as it is for the whole family.'

The growing number of customers means a busy year for the Martin family, who hope to open upstairs on Sunday in the near future.

Mo added: 'If anyone's interested, we are also having a treasure hunt next Sunday because Mick wants to find his lamb shanks . . . '