HE may have run for president of the United States of America but even Senator John Kerry can have trouble getting a table in a busy Hampshire restaurant.

Senator Kerry was in Winchester last weekend and he and his daughter stopped by at the Gourmet Pizza Company in The Square for lunch on Saturday.

Manager Gemma Rigby said she didn't recognise the senator at first and told him he wouldn't be able to have a table for lunch.

Another member of staff explained to her who Senator Kerry was and a table upstairs was duly found.

"He was really lovely to me," Gemma said. "I couldn't fit him in because we were so busy, but he just said don't worry I'm in no rush. One of the waitresses said to me, do you know who this man is? He ran for President of the USA!

"He just laughed at me. We took him to a table upstairs and he was lovely and chatty."

Other customers and staff members recognised the senator and Gemma said he had seemed happy to sign autographs.

"They weren't here very long but a few customers got autographs, and the chef got an autograph and said he'd followed him in the election campaign," Gemma said.

"We asked him what he was here for and his daughter said it was a cousin's wedding in Winchester."

It is the second visit by a senior American politician to Winchester in recent times. Former President George Bush Sr stayed at the Lainston House Hotel at Sparsholt during a fishing trip.

Manager of the Lainston House, Julian Tomlin, denied Mr Kerry had stayed at the exclusive and famously discreet hotel.

WHAT THE KERRY'S ATE:

AFTER perusing the menu at the Italian-style restaurant the Kerrys plumped for a selection of traditional pastas and healthy salads.

Senator Kerry sampled the linguine al pesto (£8.15) and a small goat's cheese and bacon salad (£4.65) while his daughter had a £7.95 chicken and goat's cheese salad.