A taste of the Mediterranean is coming to west Dorset.

Bredy Farm has been given the green light by district council planners to convert part of the farm into a restaurant. Charlie Harris and Abi Charlesworth - together with Charlie’s mother, Jenny, and nan, Juliana Mallinson -have ambitious plans to open the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant by summer – and say they are ‘extremely excited’ to welcome the public.

The Parlour will be fronted by Simon Payne, former sous chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, and his wife, Jess.

Simon, a childhood friend of Charlie’s, spent five years working in one of London’s top Italian restaurants, developing his love of Italian cuisine before moving to Bread Street Kitchen. Abi said: “It’s a big venture but we’re very excited. Starting up a new business can be nerve-wracking but we all all want to make this a success.”

The Parlour will offer cosy indoor and al fresco dining at the picturesque farm in Burton Bradstock. The couple hope to create a friendly atmosphere with large, communal, banquet-style events, and will be looking to hire and train up a full team of staff imminently.

“We can’t wait to get up and running,” they said. “We really hope to bring something very different to the area.” It’s the desire to bring something different to west Dorset which has brought Abi and Charlie huge success in the form of the music festivals they hold at Bredy Farm.

A full line-up has been announced for Camping Be Cider Seaside over the May bank holiday and SouthCider Festival in July and news is gradually being released about the August event. The farm’s Old Grain Barn has been renovated to host weddings and parties and the Cider Shed is as popular as ever amongst artists and music lovers.

The couple hope to intertwine all aspects of the farm to create a convivial space where everyone is welcome.

“We want there to be a real buzz about it,” said Abi. “We love the idea of bringing people together who might not normally come together in day-to-day situations, but who have a passion for great food, live music and good old fashioned fun. We hope that people can come along with friends or come here and make new ones. There’s a big push on community here.”

“There is a demand for local tourism and there needs to be more to attract people to the area, including younger generations. We’re really looking forward to being able to offer another outlet to draw people to one of the most stunning parts of the country, and to be able to share this beautiful farm.”