They’ve performed nothing short of a minor miracle.

A completely empty shell turned into a 60-cover Mediterranean themed café and restaurant.

In a prime location on the Sandbanks peninsula.

Using the very finest fittings and materials including a lavish use of granite and marble.

And all achieved within £1,000 of the £200,000 budget.

No wonder Ryan and Katie Porter, owners of the popular Oriel on the Quay in Poole, are proud of their latest addition.

They also think their loyal, and growing, customer base are just going to love Oriel Sandbanks.

Katie, 32, said: “We’ve had amazing feedback already after showing pictures on our social media.

“The restaurant is not even open and we’re already receiving bookings for August.

“It’s just frustrating that we can’t open yet.”

Ryan, who helped with a lot of the work including tiling, electrics and painting, said: “We’re really pleased at how it’s turned out.

“I’ve been working seven days a week but it hasn’t been stressful and we’ve had a lot of friends helping us as well.”

The couple acquired the 1,300 sq ft unit – a former general stores – on Banks Road last year.

It had no electricity, so therefore no lights or sockets, and no kitchen or hot water.

But Ryan and Katie immediately saw the potential.

They secured the site within a week.

“It’s in a brilliant location and complements our existing Oriel on the Quay really well,” said Ryan.

Originally it was hoped to launch the new venture last July but an “absolutely manic” summer led to a postponement.

Lockdown prevented a September opening while a December launch was also ruled out.

Now the plan is to open for business as soon as the current lockdown is relaxed.

However, an ‘Oriel on the Go’ takeaway service will start from Thursday March 4.

Ryan said: “We’re just across the road from the beach.

“It will be perfect for people to enjoy one of our takeaways.”

Ian McPherson-Loriguillo has been appointed Manager of the new restaurant while Helene Hardy continues as Manager of Oriel on the Quay.

Oriel currently employs 25 staff and around 15 will work at Oriel Sandbanks.

Katie said: “They are just amazing and we don’t really like to call them staff.

“They really are more like friends.”

The new café/restaurant will be open seven days a week.

It will offer the same ”relaxed, but buzzing Oriel atmosphere our customers all know” said Ryan.

The launch of Oriel Sandbanks caps a dramatic three years for Ryan and Katie as well as the realisation of a long-held ambition.

The couple, who have a daughter Isabelle, two next month, and three-month-old William, first met while employed as a waiter and waitress at Oriel 16 years ago.

They subsequently went to university and became accountants.

Until last year Ryan worked for Deloitte UK as Manager, Finance Operations and Support.

Katie was an accountant for a restaurant chain before falling pregnant with Isabelle.

When Oriel, then under a different name, came up for sale in the summer of 2018 they decided to sell their home in Hampshire and return back to Dorset.

The changes made at Oriel, including a particular emphasis on ethical ingredients and using local produce, have been a huge hit.

Oriel on the Quay is currently #1 on Tripadvisor out of 236 restaurants in Poole.

A total of 357 of the 378 reviews on the site rate Oriel as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.

Meanwhile its social media presence has gone from zero to 3,144 Facebook and Instagram followers.

Katie said: “We have incredibly loyal customers.

“Now we can’t wait to welcome them back to what will be our two restaurants.”

• orielrestaurant.co.uk