Plans have been revealed for a new restaurant in Workington town centre.

An application has been submitted for the change of use of the former Katie's Kitchen on Jane Street. 

Katie’s Kitchen moved from the building, owned by Luxembourg-based company LRP 1 SARL, in September to take over the Royal Oak in Pow Street and has been vacant since.

Tracy Goddard, property manager for Scoop AM, the firm responsible for filling the premises, said she could not reveal who the restaurateur might be as they were in the earlier stages of negotiation.

She said: "We would like to see it maintained as an eatery use. What I don’t want to do is just bring in national chains into Workington.

"We do try and make sure that there’s a good mix of both local traders and nationals but this will be a trader within Cumbria. 

Ms Goddard said the restaurant will also trade in the evening.

She added: "We will do our utmost to move things along quickly. If we can get final terms agreed with the tenant we can have some movement pre-Christmas."

There are also plans to fill a unit in Campbell Savours Way, in Washington Square, which has not been let since the new owners took on the centre last June. 

Scoop AM said it was not talking to anyone in detail but said it has applied for change of use to a restaurant to make the take-up more appealing to eateries looking for a central location. 

Ms Goddard said: "Because of it’s rounded frontage on the corner it feels it might lend itself to restaurant use. "We’ve had some expression of interest both from restaurateurs and for retail use."