WHEN the Walnut Tree Inn was featured on top chef Gordon Ramsay's new TV series owners Francesco and Enrica Mattioli knew they would not get an easy ride. MARK CHOUEKE reports.

THE morning after the famous Walnut Tree Inn featured on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, the mood is bright.

The restaurant came off better than other venues in previous episodes - but owners Francesco and Enrica Mattioli had still looked uncomfortable faced with the sheer force of Ramsay's personality when he made suggestions, such as them dropping their prices.

But efficiency reigns as staff prepare for lunch. Mr Mattioli fixes coffee before sitting down to chat while Kevin Williams, the waiter filmed stripping to his underwear performing I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt is fully dressed and laying tables.

Mr Mattioli, 40, said though his relationship with Ramsay strengthened through making the programme, he and his wife felt "shattered" when they later discovered the title of the series. " was shocked," he said. "Who can afford to have their business associated with the word 'nightmare'?" But he laughs at the suggestion he was seen to squirm under the pressure of filming.

"Gordon knows and respects me. It may have seemed tense when we disagreed over whether, for example, I should give either one of my chefs a chance to be head chef, but he knew when to stop pushing me."

The programme featured new head chef Spencer Ralph, who was appointed during the making of the programme after being interviewed by both Gordon and Francesco.

Francesco and Ramsay are old pals from their time in London. The restaurant owner from Mantova was a waiter at Cecconi's during the 1980s when it was thought of as the best Italian restaurant in London. He said: "Gordon wasn't sensitive around me, he was being the real Gordon. I rate him as one of the best chefs in the country so when he talks I listen, but those times he told me to get out of the kitchen - he said I know how to cook but I'm not a chef. That's true but when you don't have a chef, what do you do? You roll your sleeves up and get on with it."

Happier now back in the dining room charming customers - Mr Mattioli says he had four customers stay eight hours and buy eleven bottles of expensive wine the day before - the Italian is confident his restaurant can reclaim the reputation it had under previous owner Franco Taruschio.

"When you buy a house from someone you don't keep their furniture, you stamp your own identity. We are different and proud of it. You can't have an opinion on the Walnut Tree unless you've given us a try."