Former estate agent Philip O’Shea opened the restaurant in May, 2012 in St John’s Street and it has quickly become a destination of choice for people from the town and surrounding villages.

In September, six boutique-style letting rooms opened upstairs and they have become a favourite with visiting businessmen and tourists. The contemporary styled rooms have big, comfy beds and luxury bathrooms.Mr O’Shea said: “I was delighted to get two AA Rosettes for the restaurant to go with our five stars for the rooms. We are the only restaurant in town with two rosettes and the only place for miles around to have the combination of the two awards.

“I really feel we have evolved a lot in less than three years and we have done that by listening to what our customers want. We originally opened as a coffee shop and delicatessen but we quickly realised that what was really needed in Devizes was a wine bar style place for people to drink in a relaxed atmosphere.

“So we got rid of the cheese counter and turned the front part into a bar. It is now very popular especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

“Our restaurant has also really evolved from originally just being open a couple of evenings a week.”

Now dinner is served every evening except for Sunday. The Peppermill is open 10am to late Monday to Saturday and from noon to 3pm for lunch on Sundays. At lunch there are a selection of open sandwiches, grilled food, pasta specials, salads and soups. A typical evening menu includes fried scallops with courgette spaghetti and dried beetroot as a starter and stuffed lamb shank as a main. A wide variety of steaks with many sauces are always on the menu.

Call (01380) 710407 or visit peppermilldevizes.co.uk.