As we sit shivering and damp in the worst winter for years, it’s hard to imagine sitting outside in the sun enjoying lunch on the river.

But that’s what we could soon be doing in Maidstone town centre after the full plans were revealed for a floating restaurant on the River Medway.

The idea is the brainchild of James Bailey, who has lived in the town for 10 years and has been disappointed at the poor use made of the waterway.

He said: “My own home overlooks the river and I know it’s not used that much at all. It’s such a shame. We ought to make more of it.”

Mr Bailey’s first thought was to start a rowing boat hire business, but that raised possible safety issues, so that plan has been shelved for now.

Instead, Mr Bailey has applied for permission to open a floating restaurant. He said: “I’ve already held discussions with the other river users, the council and the police, and I think everyone’s happy that it’s not going to obstruct navigation or obscure the view of the Archbishops’ Palace.”

The plan is to moor a converted barge at the Undercliff, just below the palace, slightly upriver from the Kentish Lady.

Mr Bailey said: “It’s not going to be fine dining, just a good-value menu using local produce where possible.”

Mr Bailey intends to manage the business himself, with the help of his wife Lisa who is also a director of The Barge Ltd, but he laughed: “I won’t be doing the cooking myself, thank goodness!”

He once ran a floating restaurant at The Temple, in London.

The Barge Restaurant will offer 120 covers on board and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all year round, with a further 60 covers on a quayside seating area for six months of the year.