AN enterprising chef is looking to cap his first eight months in business by entering the seafood record books.

Matt Gardner, who manages the Mare and Colt , Kidderminster, with his girlfriend Jess Harris, is aiming for his sixth consecutive National Seafood Pub of the Year title and is urging local people to back his efforts by tasting a range of dishes during a special week starting on Friday, October 5.

The former Halesowen College student is hoping that a concerted marketing drive, special themed decorations and more than 40 different starters and mains will be enough to overcome the challenge from 140 outlets in the Chef and Brewer chain.

In a bid to separate himself from the competition, he has renamed one of his signature dishes as the Rachel Jones Trio of Seafood in recognition of one of the town's most famous daughters and producer of the record-breaking Chris Moyles show on Radio 1.

"We really want to put Kidderminster on the map when it comes to good dining and thought we would capture the imagination by re-naming one of our specials after a local celebrity," explained Mr Gardner, who took the reins on January 8.

"The Trio of Seafood is a dish I created myself and features potted shrimps, a bowl of mussels marinere and crayfish in a crisp filo pastry basket. It's an interesting combination of simple, yet complementary flavours that suit every taste and - being created in Kidderminster - I thought I would rename it in honour of what Rachel has achieved. I've won the national award for the last five years while working in the kitchen at the Running Horse, but I really want to mark the fact we now have our own pub by securing the title again."

Visitors to the Mare and Colt during Seafood Week can choose from one of the largest selections of dishes ever assembled, including anything from oysters and salmon and tiger prawn skewers to swordfish surf and turf, lobster thermidor and whole Dover sole.