Former Portofino head chef Franco Caparra hopes to open a new Hamilton restaurant with a rooftop bar this summer.

He has applied for permission to convert the Kitchen Corner shop at 39 Church Street into a 100-seat eatery along with accommodation quarters for newly arrived staff.

Mr. Caparra has been working on the project since December and has already recruited eight staff but hopes to eventually have 12.

The plan includes an open kitchen serving mainly Italian/Mediterranean cuisine.

Mr. Caparra said: "It's like a sushi bar. It's a nice concept. People like to see what's going on."

He said most restaurants had chefs left out in the back.

"You don't see who's cooking and what's being done. So here you can come to a table and see the amount of labour.

"People might think they know Franco from Portofino but not as many people know my face."

The terrace bar will also sell lunchtime snacks.

Mr. Caparra said the Planning Department had already given him permission to do some work inside the property and equipment and furniture had been ordered but was held up in New York.

He said: "We are hoping to open this summer."