A FAMILY-run Weston restaurant will soon be the home to a "prestigious" English Heritage Blue Plaque.

The Old Thatched Cottage, the last surviving thatched house in the town, can be found overlooking the seafront on Knightstone Road.

Having been built in 1791, the Grade II-listed cottage is thought to be one of the oldest buildings in town.

It was originally built as a holiday home for Reverend William Leeves, a soldier and musician/composer.

It has been owned and operated by the Michael family since it was purchased by Axentis Michael in 1959.

The blue plaque scheme was created to celebrate the links between buildings and notable historic figures.

Posting on Facebook, a spokesperson from The Old Thatched Cottage said: "We're absolutely thrilled to announce that our restaurant will soon be home to a prestigious English Heritage Blue Plaque.

"The blue plaque scheme celebrates the links between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked...

"Built in c. 1791, The Old Thatched Cottage is Weston's sole surviving thatched house and was home to The Reverend William Leeves - soldier, poet, musician and composer of Auld Robin Gray.

"Join us for the grand unveil on Wednesday, November 1 and find out more about our fascinating history.

"Everyone welcome!"

The English Heritage website reads: "To be awarded an official English Heritage plaque, the proposed recipient must have died at least 20 years ago.

"This is to help ensure that the decision about whether or not to shortlist a candidate is made with a sufficient degree of hindsight.

"However, plaques are as much about the buildings in which people lived and worked as about the subjects being commemorated – the intrinsic aim of English Heritage blue plaques is to celebrate the relationship between people and place.

"For this reason, we only erect a plaque if there is a surviving building closely associated with the person in question.

"In the past, different criteria were sometimes used: some plaques were put up to mark the site of a house which has since been demolished, and the 20-year rule did not always apply.

"The plaque to Napoleon III, for example – the oldest to survive – went up when he was still alive. However, the criteria are now applied without exception."

The Weston Mercury will be attending the unveiling, which starts at 11am for welcome coffee and pastries.