A restaurant in Ambleside is set to close its doors.

Chef-owner Ryan Blackburn is closing his six-year-old restaurant Kysty, located in Cheapside, after deciding not to renew its lease.

The last service will be on July 26.

Mr Blackburn also revealed plans to open two new ventures in the village later in the summer, both located next to his Michelin-starred flagship restaurant, the Old Stamp House.

He will keep all Kysty staff on board and hire additional recruits.

Mr Blackburn said: "We’re proud of what we as a team have achieved at Kysty since we opened the doors in the summer of 2018, but the time was right to examine the direction we wanted to take.

"As a result, we’ve taken what some people might think is a bold decision to close the restaurant, but the reality is it was the right time.

"With the renewal of the lease and the prospect of investing heavily to transform the space further, it simply wasn’t viable.

"Happily, new opportunities presented themselves some time ago, and ever since we’ve been quietly getting on with transforming our two new sites The Schelly and the Workshop at The Old Stamp House."

The Schelly, a small plates eatery, sits directly above the Old Stamp House.

Named after a rare freshwater fish, The Schelly will seat 24 walk-in guests and offer an additional bookable table for six near the pass.

Diners will also be offered a wide selection of wines from small-scale growers around the UK and Europe, courtesy of Mr Blackburn's award-winning sommelier team.

The second venture is a private dining space and development kitchen named The Workshop at The Old Stamp House, located in the Old Stamp House Courtyard.

This contemporary space, previously a tailor’s workshop, will seat up to eight guests who can interact with the chefs as they cook and serve.

He said The Schelly and The Workshop will open mid to late August.

Guests who have purchased vouchers for Kysty will be able to redeem them at Mr Blackburn’s other premises.