TV producers found the sky was the limit when they choose Warrington as the filming location for an aviation-themed cookery show.

An episode of Channel 4's Too Many Cooks was shot in Hangar Number 4, a burger bar styled on an aircraft hangar in Crown Street.

Simon Grimes and Emma Catterall-Grimes' restaurant, which opened in January 2015, will make its small screen debut on Wednesday, April 20.

The new series, produced by True North, sees three amateur foodie couples competing to make most inventive dishes for a range of different events and occasions.

In the Hangar Number 4 episode, the teams will compete to create the best menu for a 'bon voyage' party with a Caribbean theme for an air hostess.

Simon, 36, said: "The producers started looking for places with an aviation theme and that’s where we came in."

So it obviously helped that the restaurant has its own Cessna Citation II jet sitting by the bar.

"One of the producers came down and he loved the space," added Simon, dad to five-year-old Louis and two-year-old Frankie-Rae.

"The fact we had a plane in there was a big plus. They did a lot of their filming in front of it.

"A lot of the guests were ex-cabin crew so they were looking with interest at all of our aircraft trolleys and seats."

The scenes at Hangar Number 4 were shot in November last year when the couples created a main meal, dessert and cocktail for the air hostess and her guests.

"It’s a bit like a competitive Come Dine With Me for couples," said Simon, whose restaurant is currently number one in Warrington on TripAdvisor.

"The TV crew took it over for the whole day from 11am to 11pm.

"We were there the whole time checking out what was going on but we had to stay out of the way as we couldn’t be caught on camera.

"They filmed everything at the restaurant and there was a big reveal at the end to show who won but we’re bound to secrecy on that.

"It was interesting to actually see what happens on a TV show and see how many people are involved. They really took over.

"We’d be sat in the office and the couples would come in straight after their filming part.

"We’d get their reaction to how it went immediately so we got this sort of behind-the-scenes look that no one else will get.

"It was exciting. There were loads of people stopping and asking what was going on outside and there was even a steel drum band to tie in with the Caribbean theme."

Simon and Emma opened Hangar Number 4 when they lost their jobs in environmental management and recruitment at around the same time in May 2014.

The idea was to combine their two loves – food and travel.

This year, Simon and Emma also plan to adapt the restaurant's jet plane into an exclusive dining area for small groups.

- The Hangar Number 4 episode of Too Many Cooks is on Channel 4 at 5.30pm on April 20.

DAVID MORGAN