SOLO round the world yachtsman and Royal Southampton Yacht Club member, Mike Golding took time off from a busy sailing schedule in Venice to formally open a £312,000 development project at the Club’s Ocean Village headquarters.

He teamed up with the Club’s recently retired head waitress, Angela Pickett, to cut a ribbon within the Club’s Southampton base to officially inaugurate the new extension which include a host of improved facilities for the waterfront restaurant and lounge .

Commodore Colin Lewis said the opening of the extension overlooking the Ocean Village marina was the culmination of a four year project.

As well as an additional members' lounge to be known as the Trafalgar Room commemorating maritime traditions, the expansion provides a ground floor lobby and new lift for members, toilet facilities for the disabled, improved conference facilities for the Club’s second floor Admiral's Room and staff changing and toilet facilities.

Central to the project however, is the new lounge, extending existing bar and restaurant facilities for members and guests or for members’ private parties.

A new ground floor entrance has been provided with a lift installed to the first floor reception area, offices and foyer. On the second floor new arrangements enhance the facilities of the Admirals Room to improve its profile for corporate events and enable it to be used for dining.

That has been made possible by installation of a new lift facility to specially service the Admirals Room.

The Commodore said: "The new lounge provides a comfortable 'snug' for members to escape to whenever the main lounge is occupied with an event, or perhaps for a member to hold a select dinner party on a quiet evening, having views over the marina and additional balcony space accessed through patio doors.

"For the first time we have our own ground floor lobby with lift and toilet facilities that will accommodate wheelchairs.”