The snake, which generally spends its time making a meal of others, has had the dinner tables turned on him at the Design House Restaurant, Dean Clough, Halifax.

The restaurant is the first in Calderdale to serve up the unusual meat in the form of a £6.95 python and pig cheek pie starter.

Tammy Marshall, co-owner of the Design House, said: "We are serving python to keep the menu exciting and to encourage people in. We've had crocodile, ostrich and kangaroo but this is the most obscure we have had.

"It tastes like chicken and has great nutritional values. It's not going to look like a snake.

"I don't think it will turn anyone's stomachs just maybe mess with their minds a little.We hope it will be popular."

The python will be delivered to the Design House prepped and filleted by a London company who get the snakes from Vietnam. It is ethically produced and is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which ensures trade in rare wild animals does not threaten their survival.

Mrs Marshall also said: "It's a first for Calderdale.

"It shows we can keep up with the London boys. In York-shire we have some great restaurants but we are not always recognised for being a culinary Mecca, which we are."

You can try python for dinner now – if you dare.

Python facts

Along with anacondas, pythons are the world's largest snakes.

Pythons live near the equator, in Asia and Africa, where it is hot and wet and their huge bodies can stay warm.

They make their homes in caves or in trees but have also become used to living in cities and towns.

The snakes hunt farm animals pigs, goats, dogs, cats and chickens, and wild animals such as lizards, caiman, monkeys and antelope.

Rock python females can grow up to 16 feet long and live for as long as 30 years.

Pythons may only need to eat four or five times a year.