A popular family-run restaurant in Weymouth is moving out of town.

The Secret Garden Café in Hope Square was a favourite amongst locals and tourists, so much so that owners Barry Whettingsteel and Emma Farnworth decided they needed more space.

The couple have now made the big decision to move the restaurant into the historic Nappers Mite building on South Street, Dorchester, which boasts plenty of rustic charm and a lot more room for guests.

There is a lot of work to be done to get the building restaurant ready as it has been out of action for a number of years, but there are hopes that the Secret Garden can be open by December or January next year.

The duo said: “Our big plan is to get the place open and it will be run the same way as before.”

At the Weymouth venue, Emma would do all the cooking, but now plans have changed as the pair are expecting a baby together and are on the lookout for a new chef.

They added: “Weymouth is busy in the summer and it’s soul destroying in the winter, especially on a day that it’s windy or raining, but it seems to always be steady up here in Dorchester.”

The majority of the staff from the Weymouth venue are moving over to be part of the Dorchester team, however, there have been some new jobs created.

The food served is both vegan and gluten-free, although neither of the owners are vegans themselves.

Emma described the menu as ‘comfort home-cooked food,’ with Barry adding ‘it’s not hipster food.’

Emma said: “My favourite part of my job is meeting new people and I love talking and cooking. This is a place with a nice atmosphere, nice food and it makes people feel happy.”

The Nappers Mite venue has a courtyard and an outbuilding in which the owners are hoping to use as a space for clubs, pop up businesses and activities such as wreath making.

The Weymouth venue had been running for five years before the pair decided to move on and Emma also used to run the Crow’s Nest, next door to the Secret Garden in Hope Square.

She took over the Crow’s Nest from her parents and shortly after met Barry when she commissioned him to design a logo for her.