PLANS to extend the restaurant in Poole Park have been drawn up as part of a major refurbishment by the new owners – who are rebranding it The Kitchen.

Poole husband and wife team Richard and Sarah de Lisle, who took on Seven’s Boat Shed in October, have now submitted an application as part of their re-launch of the loss-making venue.

The couple, who have two young children, have already ploughed £1.8 million into transforming the form Gus Gorillas attraction in the park into award-winning play centre and family cafe The Ark.

And they have now turned their attention to the park’s stunning lakeside restaurant, with plans submitted to Borough of Poole to extend the first floor out to meet the line of the glazing at ground floor level, providing “more meaningful accommodation” on that floor, which currently measures just four metres in width.

The application also includes new landscaping, additional areas of glazing, moving the entrance and bar and painting the building off-white instead of cream.

Sarah de Lisle said: “The Ark was a real labour of love and something we believe passionately in so we’ve been delighted at how well it has been received by people.

“For us Poole Park is a magical place with its idyllic setting, family appeal and outstanding natural beauty, so when the opportunity came up to also acquire the Boat Shed we were both really excited.

“Our aim is to create a warm, friendly and above-all welcoming atmosphere where people of all ages can meet up and enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed, stylish environment.

“There will be lots of indoor and outdoor seating areas and new landscaped spaces to make the most of the truly spectacular waterfront location. We’re also going to have an open-plan kitchen area so people can watch the chefs at work,” she added.

They have promised The Kitchen’s menu will be based on quality, fresh produce, with be a clay oven serving homemade pizza to eat in or take away. Alongside it there are plans to renew the ice cream parlour, which will serve a range of ice creams, waffles, crepes, sundaes, milkshakes, teas and coffees.

The crescent-shaped two-storey glass-fronted building, which first opened in 2007 as Mezza Luna, was formerly owned property magnate Eddie Mitchell.