Man opens Greek taverna in his back garden

Lakis Greek Kitchen opened in 2014, as a tribute to Mr Panayiotou's late father

A man welcomes hundreds of people into his back garden each year to dine in a pop-up Greek taverna and raise money for charity.

Panikos Panayiotou built the restaurant in memory of his late father, Lakis.

The pop-up, Lakis Greek Kitchen, opens about eight times a year in Walsall, with every penny going to Mr Panayiotou's charity, LGK in the Community.

"My father was building a Greek taverna in his garden in Great Barr, and unfortunately passed way from cancer before it was finished," he said of the concept's origins in Sandwell borough.

Mr Panayiotou then spent £17,000 finishing the project, migrating it to his corner of the West Midlands, before opening the restaurant in 2014.

The restaurant fits 55 people, with a further 25 spaces available outside under marquees.

Lakis Greek Kitchen welcomes diners every Saturday over two months each year.

"We turn the restaurant around twice in one night, and on the last night, we turn it around three times," said Mr Panayiotou.

"On the last night of the season just gone, we had 242 covers in one night.

"We had a family fly in from California, because they heard about it. I was in shock."

As a Greek Cypriot, Mr Panayiotou created a traditional menu, and their signature dish is lamb klefiko.

The restaurant sees hundreds of customers over eight nights each year

The charity has been raising money for causes since its conception.

In the restaurant's inaugural year, it donated opening earnings of £5,000 to four people who had travelled to the UK from Cyprus for liver transplants.

"This year, we're supporting a young toddler," said Mr Panayiotou.

"He's got a brain tumour, and we're building him a sensory room."

He admits that his dad would be "very proud" of what he is doing.

"It's a shame he's not here, but this is what we're doing in memory of him."