INTERNATIONAL movie star Hugh Grant was spotted in Christchurch last week.

The Love Actually and Notting Hill star was seen visiting restaurants in the area on Thursday and Friday.

Staff at Masala Bay, an Indian restaurant on Bridge Street, served the A-list celeb on Friday evening.

Noyrn Islam said: “It was a great honour to have him here.

“We’ve all seen him in the movies but obviously you don’t see many celebrities around here.”

“Plenty of people recognized him.”

Mr Grant is believed to have been visiting the area with his father.

“He was with his dad and two others,” Mr Islam said. “They were here from 8pm until around 10pm.”

On Thursday evening the star was seen at Splinters restaurant on Church Street.

A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page said: “The A team cooked for Hugh Grant in our private cellar room on Thursday. We aced it!”

The international heart-throb is believed to have been staying at the luxurious four star Captain’s Club Hotel on the waterfront.

After spotting the A-lister in Masala Bay on Friday, fellow diner Rachel Snowdon took to the social media site Twitter to share her celebrity encounter.

She said: “Lovely meal at Masala Bay and guess who was in... Hugh Grant! A friend saw him in Splinters last night - clearly enjoying Christchurch!”

On Friday Amy Brennan also tweeted: “Saw the one and only Hugh Grant last night in lovely little Christchurch.”