The Lighthouse Restaurant in Southampton is set to be converted from a tea room into a fine dining experience after it was taken over by the owner of Primavera and Rustico restaurants.

Odilio Angeli bought the restaurant from Heidi Cowen, who has run the business for the past eight years and whose family has been associated with the Gibb's Hill Lighthouse since the 1800s, where her grandfather was the last keeper, in 1968.

Mr. Odilio, who said the move came about after talking to Ms Cowen a few years ago about the possibility of acquiring the restaurant, before she agreed to sell up recently, plans to renovate the premises, including the installation of a bar and toilets, retain the existing staff and take on some new ones with a view to holding a grand opening in March.

"We are going to try and keep it more or less the same style and atmosphere as Rustico, as an out of town restaurant," he said.

"We are planning to do Italian food such as pizza and other cuisines, but we are definitely going to stay casual dining for the locals and tourists that always come to the Lighthouse."

The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, as well as offering breakfast, including codfish and potatoes and full English breakfast at weekends, while there are also plans afoot to have outdoor dining with tables overlooking the Great Sound.