AWARD-WINNING chef Giuseppe Vannucci and his partner Tim Newton are opening a fine dining Italian restaurant at Weymouth's Pier Bandstand.

Al Molo, formerly the Sea View Chinese restaurant, is a collaboration of art deco design and old-world style.

Main features of the previous restaurant remain like the columns and the beams while, the kitchen has been refurbished and the rooms redecorated.

Giuseppe Vannucci, Al Molo's head chef and joint owner said: "We are extremely excited to bring our restaurant to Weymouth.

"To be able to create an amazing new menu in such a beautiful setting is fulfilling one of my dreams and my passion.

"I hope that the people of Weymouth will love our food as much as I do."

He added: "Weymouth is such a great venue because of the quality of produce available on our doorstep and I'm sure combining this with the best Italian ingredients will make dining in Al Molo a very special experience."

The menu will feature a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, all homemade from fresh, local produce and specially-sourced Italian ingredients.

Tim and Giuseppe have owned previous restaurants and coffee shops in London where the pair first met five years ago. The pair recently decided to relocate to Weymouth where Tim has family connections.

Tim said: "My family has many ties to Dorset starting with my granddad being born in Charmouth, I have relatives living in Yeovil and Weymouth too so I know the area well.

"I always thought it would be somewhere I would like to live and when the opportunity came up to start a restaurant here we jumped at the chance."

A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: "It's great to see Weymouth pier's building being put to such great use and that our investment into the region is seeing more businesses like this come to the town.

"We can only benefit from a restaurant of this calibre being here to offer our new influx of businesses and increased visitor numbers a special place to eat for every occasion."

The restaurant will officially open on March 20.