A HUGE handcrafted pizza oven being driven down a busy city centre street by a forklift truck isn't something you see every day.

But for the excited team behind Chester's new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar Artezzan – due to open next month – the sight of the mosaic oven travelling along Pepper Street was "a dream come true".

Yesterday, the new city centre venue finally took delivery of the impressive, state-of-the-art pizza oven they ordered from Italy more than six months ago.

Such was the size of the oven, a forklift truck was needed to move it and the doors of the restaurant had to be removed to get it inside.

Artezzan, which has moved into the former Las Iguanas site and will span two floors with 140 premium covers, says the newly-installed oven will be an "amazing feature" giving guests an unforgettable pizza experience.

It has been made by Italian company Esposito Forni who use artisans to construct the ovens brick by brick until it slowly shapes into a masterpiece.

Chester and District Standard:

An image of how the new Artezzan restaurant and bar will look in Chester.

Operations director Jim Dorrington said: "We ordered this amazing oven over six months ago now and to see it arrive in Chester is a dream come true.

"Artezzan will offer guests the very best Mediterranean cuisine which of course includes pizzas, our pizza dough will be made on site daily and hand stretched.

"We want our guests to come and experience the best pizzas they will have ever had and this beautiful oven will be fundamental in helping us deliver this."

Chester will be the first "flagship" premises for the new brand which celebrates authentic Mediterranean flavours, service and atmosphere.

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