The £5 million restoration of a stately home is well on its way to completion.

Stanmer House, an 18th Century mansion at the back of Stanmer Park, Brighton, is being transformed from a derelict shell into an arts and conference centre.

Stables will be used as a base for a children's charity launched later this year.

Work to extend a narrow galley kitchen at the back of the house to allow it to cater for large weddings is expected to begin in the near future.

Mike Holland and his son Vince, directors of Cherrywood Investments and the masterminds of the project, have submitted a planning application for the work to Brighton and Hove City Council.

They also hope to build a disabled lift, which would create access to offices on the upper floors.

Mr Holland, 57, said: "The project is going really well and work should be finished by the end of the year.

"Every day there are about 20 or 30 people working on the restoration.

"There is something going on in every room whether it's renewing the mouldings, doing the electrics, the plumbing, plastering or ornamental work on the timber.

"We still have the north wing to rebuild, the stable block to convert and on-going maintenance but when it's all finished we will have a huge party."

If planning permission is granted, the kitchen, designed by Frances Jacquet, would be kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment and would be extended to measure 69sq m.

Mr Holland said: "We want to enlarge the kitchen so we can hold large events and we are hoping to attract a few celebrity weddings.

"We have been talking with the Arts Council and hope to use the house to host events in the Brighton Festival next year."

It has already been used by Sir Cliff Richard as a backdrop for an album cover . Psychic Uri Geller, who spent a spooky day at the house filming a television programme, insists it is haunted.

A scene from TV series Mr Bean where the bumbling character, played by Rowan Atkinson, returns to school, was also filmed there.

Mr Holland said: "When it is completed the house will be a glittering venue for high-profile events.

"It will really put Stanmer Park on the map."