Customers 'won't notice the difference' following the takeover of Loch Fyne Restaurants by pub company Greene King, it has been claimed.

Chris Salt, a spokesman for Loch Fyne, said: "Greene King bought Loch Fyne because it was looking for a very successful restaurant chain, and it will continue to grow.

He added: "As far as customers are concerned, there will be no change."

The £68.1m deal covers 36 seafood restaurants, including one in Walton Street, Oxford.

Greene King, which owns the Hungry Horse chain, aims to double the number of Loch Fyne restaurants, including converting Greene King pubs.

Rooney Anand, chief executive of Greene King, said: "Loch Fyne is a high quality, well-respected British restaurant brand which gives us greater access to the premium end of the market and brings to our business further operational expertise."

Mark Derry, chief executive of Loch Fyne Restaurants, added: "The tie-up with Greene King is an excellent development for Loch Fyne. It gives us the opportunity to capitalise on our already strong reputation and to accelerate the expansion of our business.

"We're delighted to have found a buyer who recognises our strengths and whose style of management fits so well with our own."

Loch Fyne Restaurants more than doubled profits in the last year before a management buyout deal two years ago.

The Greene King takeover does not include Blanc Brasseries, which also has a branch in Walton Street.

The brasseries, formerly the le Petit Blanc chain, had been bought by Loch Fyne from administrators after runnning into financial difficulties in 2004, but last year were sold to managers for £6m.

The owners of Blanc Brasseries include founder and Oxfordshire chef Raymond Blanc, two directors of Loch Fyne Restaurants - Mr Derry and Ian Glyn - and John Lederer, formerly of Groupe Chez Gerard.