Heads in Arundel turned by Saracen ‘invader’

But two chefs in Arundel raised the bar to a whole new level on Thursday, when they hired a 14-tonne, armoured personnel carrier to roll up and celebrate their special day.

Alan Maynard and Laura Sylvester, head chefs at the newly-open Boca Nuevo tapas bar, at the rear of the White Hart, had motorists and passers-by stopping and staring as the six-wheeled, 1953 Saracen armoured personnel carrier rumbled into town and parked outside their business, in Queen Street.

The pair then clambered into the fighting vehicle, with Laura posing in the gunner’s seat and Alan sitting in the driver’s chair. George Barron, eight, also had a chance to sit in the Saracen.

Alan, who was trained at the prestigious Michelin star-rated La Trompette restaurant, in London, said: “We just wanted something a little quirky to announce our arrival. What better way than getting an armoured personnel carrier to come by for the day?”

The Saracen, which was brought to the town from its base near West Chiltington by family friend Liam Marchant-Lane, was taken on a tour around Arundel, with the flag of the new tapas bar flying from it.

Alan, who opened the bar, in the back of the White Hart pub, a couple of weeks ago, said he had a passion for Spanish, Asian and Japanese cuisine – a passion which was reflected in his menu.

He said: “Our menu is quite eclectic. I wanted to combine all my influences into one area.

“So there’s Oriental cuisine that combines with traditional, Mediterranean food,

“People can come in for as much or as little as they want. It’s totally up to them.”

The Boca is open between Tuesday and Saturday, from noon until 9pm, and on Sundays from noon to 5pm.