FOLLOWING the successful opening of its new dining area, the Paradiso arts centre has launched a major fundraising campaign .

Some of the funding will be used to renovate the exterior of the building at the top of Fore Street, Bovey Tracey.

Far more ambitious though, are plans to extend the dining area.

Currently, part of the centre’s exhibition space has been set aside to provide customers with an intimate dining experience among the artwork on display. The setting and cuisine have received positive reviews.

The hope is to extend the existing premises to add more seating under a glass atrium, with access through a Tudor gateway.

A spokesperson said: ‘Building on everything that has been achieved so far and following the recent successful opening of our fantastic new café/restaurant in March, to complement our artists’ studios and gallery, we want to continue our momentum and need your help with our next steps.

‘We want to make sure the whole town can be proud of the fantastic facility the community owns and smarten up the outside of the building. It needs to be fully repaired and decorated externally to make sure the building looks its best and helps to instil pride in our town.

‘Allowing the King of Prussia to once again be a focal point in the town will encourage residents and visitors to explore everything Paradiso has to offer and help us towards our ultimate goal of building the cinema/auditorium that we all want.

‘At the moment the seating for the café/restaurant is limited to the gallery space and we need more tables to accommodate everyone who wants to enjoy the exciting menu on offer.  

‘Eventually the café/restaurant will have its own dedicated space when the next stage of the building works is funded and completed. Until then we want to take an interim step and extend the current café space to enable us to expand the seating available.’

The ultimate dream is to complete the original vision which will see an intimate theatre / cinema space to the rear of the complex.

The Paradiso has launched a Crowdfunder to raise the £25k needed for the current project.

Any donation, no matter how small would be welcome.