A BUSINESSMAN is transforming a well-known Chinese restaurant into a community hub for young people.

Andrew Goodall, of Brunswick Developments, the company that owns Brighton Marina, took ownership of the Brighton Pagoda in the marina early last year to make the most of the space the boat had to offer.

It is run by his charity, the Goodall Foundation, and under the new name, The Barge, there will be activities taking place for youngsters to join in for free.

Leaders estate agents is also helping to fund the project.

Mr Goodall said: “When the Barge stopped operating as a restaurant last year, I felt very strongly that I didn’t want it to be scrapped.

“It seemed a good opportunity to provide an alternative offer in the Marina.”

Mr Goodall and his foundation team spent the months after purchasing the boat as time to think about what to do with it.

He said: “Community and youth organisations are in short supply across the city, and with more than 3,000 square feet right in the marina’s heart, The Barge has the potential to be a remarkable space.”

Summer occupants on the boat include Strike a Light, a community arts and heritage organisation, AudioActive, a music organisation that works with young people, Blockbuilders, Tarner Community Project, Onca and Sea PR.

The Barge will open on July 26, and programmes for the autumn and 2018 are still being planned.

The foundation has ringfenced a budget to support the project.

Mr Goodall said: “I’m really excited about the partnerships it’s enabling us to have with organisations across the city.

“The marina has always been open to everyone, and I’m thrilled that we now have a chance to draw new groups to the area.”

Adam Joolia, of AudioActive, said: “We’re really excited to be working on The Barge over the last two weeks of the summer break and welcoming the next generation of practitioners to our team.

“Three young adults recently completed our music leader training course. They have designed and will be leading this project, supporting younger teenagers to collaborate, write, record and release an E.P from scratch.

“The project will initiate the trainees as professional music leaders and springboard them on to further employment.”

Eugenie Teasley, CEO of the Goodall Foundation, said: “We are thrilled at being able to collaborate with others.

“We want to complement the marina’s great commercial offers while transforming the Barge into a sustainable space for everyone in the heart of the place.”